by Eliza Raine
‘Eryx is not worthy of first mate.’
‘How come Antaeus seems to give him all the good jobs, then?’
‘He gives him the jobs that need blind strength. I told you, I prefer to make my moves with some consideration.’
Evadne looked at him thoughtfully. ‘What’s it like to be a king?’ she asked.
‘Not as good as it will be to be an immortal king,’ he answered. For the first time, she saw a smile pulling at his mouth.
‘Do your people like you?’
‘Well enough,’ He shrugged, then narrowed his black eyes at her. His face was twice the size of her own and his gold skin shone against their icy background. ‘Why do you ask so many questions?’
Evadne shrugged too.
‘There’s a lot to learn about Olympus.’ She nodded at Theseus and Abderos, still talking about ships. ‘I’m far more interested in lands and kings than I am in ships. Does everyone in Egypt have gold skin?’
‘Most. Not all. The sun burns skin in my desert.’
‘Are you cold now?’ He shook his head. ‘I am,’ she muttered. Then she asked, as casually as she could, ‘Have you met Poseidon?’
Busiris’s face instantly hardened.
‘No,’ he spat.
‘What about when he asked the crew to be his heroes?’
‘He asked Antaeus, and Antaeus came to me. I have never shared words with my father.’
It was interesting that Poseidon had so little interest in most of his sons. What was different about Antaeus, she wondered.
‘So, you’re in this for the eternal life, rather than fame or glory in your father’s name?’
‘Eternal life is worth far more than fame or glory,’ he said quietly.
Evadne cocked her head. ‘Fame and glory are a kind of immortality,’ she said.
‘Pah,’ he barked, dismissing the statement with a sweep of his massive hand. ‘Metaphors and philosophy. We’re being offered the real thing. True immortality. A chance to live forever.’ His fist clenched as he spoke, his hard eyes gleaming with intensity. So, Evadne thought, Busiris was very motivated indeed. Just as motivated as Eryx in fact, just not by loyalty or pride.
‘Look!’ Abderos’s voice broke through their conversation, and he pointed at the wall of the cage. The surface was shimmering and fluctuating, then it hardened, showing them an image. Theseus sat up straight, alert. It was Psyche, Bellerephon and Hedone, all running up a narrow spiral staircase that looked like it was made of glass. Wet cloaks flapped behind them as they ran, glimpses of Psyche’s golden armour gleaming beneath hers. All four prisoners watched in silence as the team burst from the staircase onto a long promenade. Abderos breathed in sharply.
‘Gladiator pit,’ he whispered. He was right, Evadne thought as she stood up slowly. Psyche was leading her crew along a curved bench meant as seating for the audience at fights. Suddenly there was an almighty crack and her attention was ripped from the image to the other side of the cage. The side the boar was attacking. A splinter had appeared in the ice, at head height. Busiris shifted on the ground and she stepped quickly over his leg and reached out her hand. As she did so the splinter grew, cracking as it lengthened. The snorts of the boar seemed louder as she watched it back up, distorting through the ice wall. They were nearly out of time.
19
Hedone panted as they sprinted along the bench seats after the red light. They had gladiator pits like this in Pisces but they were mostly used to host plays and concerts. She glanced sideways, to where a huge cube of ice sat in the centre of the pit, being battered repeatedly by a boar taller than she was. Theseus was in there.
Her stomach constricted and her heart fluttered before the thought was replaced with, At least Hercules wasn’t in there. She realised Psyche was slowing down and reduced her own pace with relief. Her wet clothes were weighing her down, making every stride harder. She’d always loved to swim but after that cavern filling up she’d not be doing it again in a while. She didn’t know how Psyche had done it, swimming with all that armour on. She felt hot from exertion and cold from her wet clothes and the frigid air, her sweat indistinguishable from water now.
‘I think this is it,’ breathed Psyche as they reached a column of ice jutting up from the bench. It was sheer and stretched up into the sky and the whole thing pulsed gently with red light. There was a dark hole in the front of the column, easily ten feet above their heads.
‘What do we do?’ asked Bellerephon. Psyche slipped her pack off her shoulder and pulled it open.
‘I guess it has something to do with this,’ she answered, pulling out the red metal sphere Apollo had dropped onto their ship at the start. ‘Apollo said it was a key.’
‘You reckon that hole is the lock?’ Bellerephon gestured at the hole in the column.
‘Let’s give it a go,’ said Psyche. She hefted the sphere in one hand, aiming, then threw. The sphere hit the column a few inches under the hole and clattered loudly to the ice bench at their feet. Hedone dropped into a crouch quickly, retrieving it before it could roll away. She handed it back to Psyche. ‘Want a go?’ the woman asked her.
Hedone shook her head immediately. If Psyche didn’t have the strength to get the sphere high enough, she certainly wouldn’t. Bellerephon took it from her instead and took only a second to aim before launching it at the column. Hedone’s mouth dropped open as it sailed straight into the hole and a whirring sound started up. Psyche clapped him hard on the back and he shrugged, grinning.
Then, with a flash of red light, Theseus was sitting on the bench next to them. He blinked rapidly, then scrabbled to his feet.
‘Thank the gods for that,’ he said and, grasped Psyche’s outstretched hand. She smiled at him, and Hedone could see clearly that it was an adoration different to her own. It was respect.
‘Who was rescued first?’ Psyche asked, eyes gleaming. Theseus looked around at them all, a broad smile slowly taking over his handsome face.
‘Me. You did it. We won.’
20
Lyssa hated spiral staircases. They were too narrow and made her legs feel a bit wobbly at the best of times. Being able to see the distorted ground through steps made of ice wasn’t helping.
‘Nearly there,’ panted Phyleus behind her. She rolled her eyes. He had no idea if they were nearly there. She supposed saying it helped him keep going.
Abruptly the staircase did end, funnelling them out into one of the rows of bench seats surrounding the pit. Her breath caught as a loud clang rang through the structure. It was the massive boar, slamming into a cube made of ice in the middle of the pit. She started to move down the rows, towards the cage, but Epizon called out to her.
‘Captain! The light.’
She looked up to see him pointing. The purple light they had followed so far was bouncing along the row of seats, towards a sheer column also glowing purple. She sighed angrily as she climbed back up the benches, then jogged along after the light. It was clear what they had to do when they got there. There was a hole in the column, just a little bigger than the key Apollo had given them, a few feet above Epizon’s head. She fished the sphere out of her pack and took a few long strides. Both men moved backwards, out of her way.
She took a long breath and dropped her stance. She let loose the Rage coiled in her muscles and ran, focusing on Abderos’s face. As she reached the column she jumped and stretched her arm high. The sphere weighed nothing in her hand and she threw it easily, aiming for the hole. It hit the column a little high, then dropped and caught on the bottom edge of the hole, tipping into the darkness. Relief flooded Lyssa as she landed back on her feet. A whirring sound echoed around them, then, with a flash of purple light, Abderos was there, chair and all, beside them.
He barked a laugh, eyes wide with astonishment as he looked at them. Lyssa threw her arms around him, eyes blurring. She dashed angrily at the tears she couldn’t help. She’d not let herself consider that she might actually lose him, but now he was here the relief was so stro
ng it was making her head pound and her heart hammer. Abderos had been a child when she found him. He was the closest thing to a little brother she had, since Hercules had taken her actual brother. She screwed her eyes shut tightly, hoping nobody would notice her crying.
‘Thanks, Cap,’ Abderos said into her wet hair. ‘Shame you weren’t a few minutes earlier.’ She pushed back from him, opening her eyes and raising her eyebrows in question. ‘Theseus was rescued not five minutes ago. He’s a nice guy, by the way. Turns out he doesn’t have a swimming pool, though.’
Phyleus laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. ‘That’s a shame,’ he said.
‘Yeah, but it makes sense, I mean, how would you fit a pool onto—’
‘I meant that we didn’t win,’ Phyleus cut him off.
‘Oh. Yeah. But I didn’t get eaten by a boar so…’ He gave a small shiver and Lyssa let out a long breath. She suspected he didn’t feel as casual about his rescue as he was making out, but he was safe. That was what mattered most. It was an added bonus that Hercules hadn’t won.
21
Hercules got the sphere into the hole on his second try. At the first attempt he’d used too much force, the sphere bouncing off the column and into the rows of benches below them. After Asterion had retrieved it he had tried again, moderating his strength this time. There was a whirring sound and a flash of white light and then Evadne was standing in the row with them, confusion written across her face.
‘What…?’ she stammered, then her face sagged in relief and she sat down hard on the bench behind her. ‘The boar was almost through,’ she breathed.
‘Were we first?’ Hercules demanded. Evadne dropped her gaze to the ground, and shook her head.
‘Theseus,’ she said quietly. Hercules’s fist lashed out, hitting the column.
‘All that, for nothing!’ he shouted. Evadne frowned, opening her mouth, then closing it again. ‘Do you know what I’ve been through?’ he hissed at her. She looked him up and down, taking in his wet clothes.
‘I guess it involved water,’ she said. He stepped towards her, his temper flashing and she shifted away from him quickly.
‘Busiris is still in the cage,’ she said. ‘And the boar is almost through the ice.’
‘How is that relevant to me?’ Hercules hissed.
‘I think we may be able to use him.’ Evadne pushed her chin out. ‘I spoke to him while we were in there. He has little allegiance to his captain and is only driven by becoming immortal. Turns out he’s a king of some place called Egypt.’
Hercules had heard of Egypt. It was deep in Aries, a tough place by all accounts. A king might be a useful ally to have. He scowled at Evadne.
‘How does that help me if he’s eaten by a boar?’
‘We could help him. Then he would be indebted to us.’
Hercules laughed loudly. Had she gone mad? She wanted to help their opponents?
‘You want me to rescue your new friend?’ he asked incredulously. She folded her arms.
‘A half-giant king with lands and wealth is the sort of person you want to owe you a debt,’ she said coolly.
‘Or the sort of person you might try to win over yourself,’ he hissed, his eyes narrowing. All it took was two hours alone with a half-giant and Evadne had turned her eyes elsewhere. That would not do.
‘Captain, I just think it—’
‘Don’t,’ he spat, cutting her off. ‘Don’t think, don’t speak, don’t do anything except sit there and watch your new boyfriend get ripped to pieces.’
22
They weren’t going to make it. The realisation made Eryx sick to his stomach. Escaping the ice phoenix a second time had been too much for Antaeus. The giant was barely responsive and so cold to touch. Eryx was exhausted from helping to drag him through the forest, his wet boots rubbing sores on his feet and his injured chest aching deeply.
He wouldn’t actually miss Busiris, but he didn’t want him to be eaten by a giant boar. He didn’t think anybody deserved that. A giant like his captain might have stood a chance against it, but Busiris was not a fighter.
‘Captain won’t be happy if Busiris gets eaten,’ grunted Bergion, voicing Eryx’s own thoughts. Eryx couldn’t see the giant past Antaeus’s limp form but he nodded anyway.
‘We might still make it,’ he said.
‘We’ve been out here over two hours.’
They lapsed into silence again, trudging past the sparkling trees and plants. ‘Least it’s Busiris, though,’ Bergion said. ‘Wouldn’t like it to be Albion.’
It was the nicest thing Eryx had ever heard either brother say about the other. A small smile tugged at his lips.
‘Yeah. That would be bad,’ he agreed.
‘Hope Antaeus makes it, though. If Antaeus dies and Busiris lives, he’ll be captain.
Eryx scowled. He hadn’t thought of that. ‘Course Antaeus’ll make it. He’s the strongest man I’ve ever met.’
‘He’s the heaviest,’ Bergion grunted in response.
23
‘You want us to do what?’ Hedone saw Captain Lyssa frowning at Theseus as he spoke to her.
Hedone herself was aching. Her whole body was cold, cold like she’d never felt before. She’d never physically exerted herself so much in her life, and the short run round the circular pit to where the crew of the Alastor were gathered around their purple column had been the final straw. She couldn’t do any more. She slumped backwards, onto the bench.
‘I want you to help me get Busiris out of there,’ Theseus repeated slowly. ‘Psyche and Bellerephon will provide cover, I’ll distract the boar and you break into the cage.’
‘Firstly, why? And secondly, are we even allowed to do that?’ Lyssa said.
Theseus shrugged. ‘It’s not right to leave him to die. And if it’s not allowed, what will they do? They can’t kill off two heroes this early.’ He grinned and Hedone saw Lyssa’s face soften. She knew the power of that man’s smile.
‘Fine,’ said Lyssa after a moment.
‘Excellent,’ said Theseus and vaulted over the bench below them towards the cage. Psyche kneeled beside Hedone quickly.
‘Are you all right?’ The concern in Psyche’s voice surprised her.
‘I’m just tired. And cold,’ she said.
‘You need to keep moving, or the cold will set in properly. Stay here, though,’ Psyche said, then straightened up and pulled out her slingshot as she followed Theseus. Hedone forced herself to her feet, wincing at the squelch of her wet boots. She didn’t watch as Lyssa and her captain raced to save the half-giant, though. She scanned the benches of the pit instead, looking for the other columns. Her eyes landed on the white column, and the massive form of Hercules beside it. She knew, somehow, that he would not help rescue Busiris. And she couldn’t work out how she felt about it. She knew that he should help. She knew that she would, if she could. But somehow, she understood. It was obvious to her why he must let his opponents die. What kind of a competition would it be otherwise? He needed to win and Hedone would do anything to see him gain an immortal life. He looked towards her and her breath caught. Their eyes locked across the pit and fire burned within her. She would do anything for him.
24
Evadne tried to keep her face impassive as she watched Lyssa and Theseus get closer to the floor of the pit. Hercules was a fool not to listen to her. Allies were necessary now; they were four Trials in and had only one victory. They had no chance of a treaty with Lyssa, obviously, and while Hercules seemed interested in Hedone, it was unlikely Theseus would oblige. The giants had been their best bet and this was a perfect opportunity. A question clawed at her, and she did not want to admit she already knew the answer. Would Hercules have saved me, if he knew he had already lost the Trial? She’d seen no relief on his face to see her safe. Yet the others were risking their lives to save somebody who wasn’t even on their crew.
A squeal from the boar below caught her attention and she leaned forward on her bench. Psyche was standing on a s
eat five or six rows up from the floor, her slingshot drawn and her gold armour gleaming. A ripple of admiration ran through Evadne as she watched the woman aim again, unwavering and solid. She heard a shout and as the boar snorted and kicked under Psyche’s pellets she saw Theseus waving his arms a few feet from the cage. The boar saw him too and dropped its head, its massive curving tusks scraping the ground as it drew it hooves across the ice. Then it lurched forward after Theseus and he whirled around, running for the benches.
A flash of red hair by the cage caught Evadne’s eye and she leaned out further as Lyssa threw her shoulder against the cage. Smashing sounds echoed around the pit as the cage shattered and Busiris leaped to his feet in the middle of the wreckage. Evadne could see the confusion on his large face as he looked around for his crew-mates. He saw Lyssa and she could tell that the girl was saying something to him. Then, out of nowhere, the boar came charging through the shattered ice. Lyssa dived out of the way, rolling and coming up on her feet to sprint towards the benches, but Busiris was not so quick. He jumped aside, avoiding the first charge, but the boar wheeled around, steam erupting from its giant nostrils. It ducked its head again, ready to charge, and Busiris looked from side to side with panicked eyes.
‘Run, you fool!’ bellowed Theseus. The half-giant seemed to snap back to life at the order, his long legs starting to move. At the same time there was an ear-piercing squeal from the boar and it dropped to the ground, legs folding beneath it. Bellerephon had joined Psyche and they were firing and reloading pellets faster than Evadne would have thought possible.
‘Enough!’ A voice boomed across the pit. The boar vanished with a whimper and Evadne stood up, holding her breath.
