by Eliza Raine
‘Why the Alastor?’ Hedone asked quietly.
‘I like Lyssa. She’s strong, and, I think, a decent person, despite her chosen line of work.’ Psyche shrugged.
‘I spoke with her navigator, in the cage on Capricorn,’ said Theseus. ‘He was sold to the gladiator pits on Aries when he was a child, and Lyssa found him and took him in. She would only have been a child herself when Hercules killed her mother and brother.’
Something pulled at Hedone’s gut, hard, and for a split second she felt sick. Who could do something so vile? But almost as soon as the thought settled, it floated away, and all she could grasp at was a distant knowledge that something wasn’t right. Her frustration must have shown on her face because Psyche stepped towards her, frowning.
‘There are many evil, corrupt people in Olympus,’ she said softly. ‘Don’t let their deeds bring you down.’ Hedone looked at her, trying to cling to the unease, to understand it. Hercules had been forced to kill his family. Hera had made him do it, turned Olympus against him. She nodded mutely, and the tenderness in Psyche’s usually strong face made her eyes sting with hot tears.
‘Do you want to train?’ Hedone forced the question out. She needed to distract herself. She needed to be strong. Psyche raised her eyebrows in surprise.
‘Yes. Of course,’ she replied, cocking her head with a small smile. ‘I’ll fetch the spears, you go and get dressed.’
5
Evadne had pored over all the books in Hercules’s rooms but nothing had given her any ideas about what to do with the egg. They were on their way to Gemini now, moving fast, and she didn’t think she was going to work it out before the next Trial. A sliver of fear rippled through her as she wondered what might happen if they found out that they needed whatever was in the egg for this Trial. Would Hercules blame her for not being able to open it? She knew he would. She closed a book of hymns to the gods and set it down on the little glass table next to her chair.
‘How much further?’ she asked Asterion, in her mind.
‘Thirty minutes,’ he answered gruffly. She stood up and stretched. Her legs ached from swimming and running. Shooting down that telkhine and enabling their win should have put her back in Hercules’s favour. She had not expected lavish praise or thanks, but she had expected some attention. Some special treatment. But Hercules had not asked her to his rooms to celebrate, as he did after their first win. He had not looked at her with respect for what she had worked out, for the part she had played. In fact, he’d pretty much ignored her since they had been back on the Hybris. With the exception of gloating over injuring Lyssa and likely killing her first mate, he had barely spoken to Evadne.
She clenched her fists and screwed up her face in overwhelming frustration. After the stables, she had wanted to keep her distance, wanted him to ignore her. But now… The way Theseus looked at Psyche with so much respect, the way Lyssa had risked her own life for Epizon’s… She shook her head, hard. The need for recognition, for her achievements to be acknowledged, was irrational, she told herself crossly, and picked up the book. Immature, even. For her safety and for the prize, this was best. Stay out of his way, and keep being useful, she chanted in her head, sliding the book back into its place on the shelf. But resentment burned under the sensible words and she couldn’t shake the jealousy she felt when she thought of the other crews.
‘Well?’ Hercules asked her when she stepped onto the quarterdeck.
She shook her head.
‘I’m sorry, Captain, there’s no reference to anything useful.’
He stared at her for a moment, his grey eyes flashing, then stood up from his captain’s chair. Ati leaped off his lap with a squeak and scampered to the hauler.
‘We break it, then,’ he said, and to her relief strode straight past her. He set the egg down gently on the deck, then drew Keravnos from its sheath. It glowed a faint red as he rested the tip of the sword against the shell, then pushed. A thin, perfect line crept out from where the sword pierced it and then, abruptly, the egg fell open in two pieces. Putting aside her surprise at how careful Hercules had been, Evadne leaned down to look.
There was a bottle, full of bright turquoise liquid that shimmered in the passing light.
‘What is it?’ asked Asterion. Evadne shrugged.
‘No idea. Captain?’
Hercules was silent for a moment before he spoke.
‘I’m sure it will be very valuable to me, whatever it is. Asterion, secure it in the hold.’
‘Yes, Captain,’ said the minotaur. He picked up the bottle gingerly, then carried it to the hauler.
Evadne watched him go, breathing calmly despite her racing heart. She did know what was in the bottle. She had recognised it immediately. It was anapneo, a tonic that allowed the drinker to breathe under water for a time. And it was worth a fortune. That bottle could be her ticket off the Hybris, should she ever need it. It would make her rich, and while wealth wasn’t immortality, it was better than nothing. Evadne was just considering following Asterion down to the cargo deck so that she could see where the tonic would be stowed when Hercules called to her. She turned to him, her face an impassive mask.
‘Have you been to Gemini before?’ he asked her, staring out at the clouds as they raced past. Evadne nodded.
‘Yes, Captain, but only the north island. I understand the south island is mostly jungle.’
‘Hermes didn’t say anything about number of crew members. I’m taking you with me.’
‘Yes, Captain,’ she answered. He looked at her and her breath caught at the intensity in his eyes.
‘Evadne.’ He spoke quietly. Was he going to thank her? She held her breath. ‘Don’t let me down,’ he said.
Evadne’s insides clenched and it was all she could do not to let the anger show as her lips tightened involuntarily.
‘Yes, Captain,’ she ground out, and turned to follow Asterion.
Many people visited the temple of Hermes and offered him gifts in return for wisdom. When they arrived on the chosen day for the god of wisdom, eloquence and rewards, to distribute this wisdom, Hermes gifted philosophy on the person who had made the richest offering. The next best was given the ability to speak well. The rest were given gifts of astronomy or made poets, writers or musicians.
EXCERPT FROM
Life of Apollonius of Tyana by Philostratus
Written 1–2 AD
Paraphrased by Eliza Raine
6
‘Wow. It really is a jungle,’ said Phyleus, leaning over the railings of the Alastor to look down at Gemini.
‘You don’t say,’ answered Lyssa, who was crouching down on the deck so Len could reach her. She couldn’t really move her arm much, and her broken ribs made walking painfully slow, but she had to compete in the Trial. Epizon was supposed to be in charge if she couldn’t be, and he was still under Len’s care in the cargo deck. Apparently he had woken a few times and the satyr assured her he was doing well, but when she’d crept in to see him earlier he hadn’t stirred.
‘You shouldn’t be going down there, Captain,’ Len said, tightening the fabric sling across her shoulder, then stepping back and eyeing the purple beam of light they were heading towards.
She waved her good hand dismissively.
‘Hermes said it would be tests and traps. That doesn’t sound physical.’
Phyleus looked at her.
‘It does sound physical, Lyssa.’
‘Captain!’ she corrected him sharply.
‘And the gem is guarded by a bull. Your ability to escape a charging bull right now is questionable,’ he carried on, ignoring her correction.
‘Captain?’ Nestor trotted up to her. ‘I believe I have a solution for your condition.’
‘I’m not drinking ambrosia. Not if I can help it…’ started Lyssa, but the centaur shook her head.
‘You may ride on my back,’ she said.
Lyssa’s eyebrows shot up and Len whirled around to face her in shock. Centaurs usually barely conversed w
ith humans. To let one ride on their back… It was unheard of.
‘Why? Why would you let me do that?’ breathed Lyssa.
‘I believe you would do the same for me. Or any of this crew,’ Nestor said simply.
Lyssa nodded slowly.
‘Thank you, Nestor. I… It might make all the difference. Len, I’d like it if you came too. You know more about Olympus than I do and if there are tests—’
‘No, Captain.’ Len shook his head. ‘I can’t leave Epizon. He’s not stable enough yet.’
‘Good job I know loads about Olympus, then,’ said Phyleus with a lazy smile.
‘I thought you wanted to sit a few Trials out?’ Lyssa said, turning to him. ‘Doesn’t a prince need plenty of beauty sleep?’ She was teasing, but she realised as she spoke that she did want him to come.
‘I never said that. And I clearly don’t need any beauty sleep.’ He flashed her a grin and pushed his hair back from his forehead. ‘Besides, I didn’t do the last Trial.’
‘Hmmm. You got wet all the same,’ said Lyssa. While saving my life, she thought.
‘I’m coming. And you can’t stop me.’ His lips didn’t move as his voice sounded in her head and the anger she expected to feel at being told what she could and couldn’t do didn’t come. His eyes flashed as she stared at him, defiance playing across his face.
‘What have I told you about talking to me like this!’ she shot back mentally.
‘You need me.’ His gaze deepened and heat flooded her cheeks. His desire was clear in his eyes. She didn’t know if she needed him or not, but it was getting harder to deny that she wanted him.
‘Fine, Phyleus, you can come,’ she said aloud, breaking eye contact with him. ‘Ab, how long until we get there?’
‘About fifteen minutes, Captain,’ Abderos said from the wheel behind her.
‘All right,’ she breathed.
Lyssa winced as Phyleus helped pull her into the longboat. The Alastor would never get low enough through the dense jungle foliage to let them reach the ground, so the longboat was their only option, even though Nestor almost filled the little craft. Lyssa willed the boat up and off the main deck of the ship, towards the purple beam erupting from the green trees below the ship.
‘Good luck, Cap!’ yelled Abderos as they sailed off.
She leaned over the boat’s edge, watching the trees part slightly as they neared the light. A pale yellowing stone could be seen through gaps in the canopy. It was some sort of structure.
‘I guess that’s the labyrinth?’ said Phyleus, leaning over beside her.
‘Mazes are simple,’ said Nestor. They both looked at her. ‘Choose one wall and always turn right. It will not be the shortest route, but you will not get lost.’
‘Huh,’ said Phyleus. ‘That kind of makes sense.’
Lyssa frowned. It wasn’t the way she had planned to tackle the labyrinth, but she was willing to give it a go. Centaurs were known for their wisdom, after all.
When they reached the beam of light she lowered the boat, carefully manoeuvring through the trees. It got hotter as they descended and within moments her shirt was damp and sticking to her skin. She was glad she had worn cotton trousers; leather would have been awful in the humidity. Birds called loudly to each other and once they were fully through the thick canopy the light got darker and a strong smell of earth invaded her nostrils. Lyssa landed the small boat in a clearing right at the base of the beam of light, which was shooting up directly from a forest floor littered with leaves and roots and things that scuttled.
‘There.’ Phyleus pointed to two tall trees with a narrow gap between them, a yellow stone wall just visible beyond. ‘The labyrinth.’
7
Lyssa couldn’t help feeling awkward as she tried to settle herself on Nestor’s broad back. The centaur had barely said a word when Phyleus had given her a leg up and she’d gripped the centaur’s flank with her good arm and heaved herself into a sitting position. Now she held onto Nestor’s sturdy belt, careful not to touch her human back.
‘You look uncomfortable,’ Phyleus said to her mentally as they approached the entrance to the maze.
‘You think?’ Lyssa snapped. He threw her a smile and they stepped between the trees.
‘Left or right?’ Phyleus said as he looked both ways down the endless pale stone corridor. Lyssa glanced up in relief at the swirling pastel sky visible through overhanging trees, saying a silent thanks that they weren’t underground or closed in.
‘Right,’ said Nestor.
‘OK,’ Phyleus replied, turning to his right and walking forward confidently.
‘Hermes said there would be traps. Go carefully,’ Lyssa warned. Phyleus looked back and rolled his eyes at her.
‘Yes, Captain,’ he drawled and took a few exaggeratedly slow steps forward. Nestor overtook him in a couple of strides and he made a noise of protest. Lyssa suppressed a small laugh. They walked in silence for a while, then Phyleus stopped suddenly, pointing.
‘Look.’
There was an archway in the wall to their left, and Lyssa peered at it as Nestor slowed to a stop. The columns of the arch were carved with snakes and midway up were two huge stone lion heads.
‘Do we go through?’ Lyssa asked.
The second she stopped speaking the lion heads shimmered, like a wave of heat had hit them, then they grew, coming away from the columns. Nestor stepped back quickly as two full-size lions slowly emerged from the stone, stretching and pawing at the ground. Wings sprouted slowly from their backs, and as she watched their faces morphed and changed until they looked human.
‘Sphinxes,’ whispered Nestor. One of them looked at her sharply, then sat back on its haunches, tucking in its wings. The second took up the same position on the other side of the archway.
‘They still look like they’re made from stone,’ breathed Phyleus in awe.
‘We are made from stone,’ the creatures said in unison, their voices weirdly lyrical, followed by an unnatural echo. Phyleus jumped and Nestor took another step back, bumping her hind legs against the opposite wall of the corridor.
‘Where does this archway lead?’ Lyssa asked them.
‘Where you need to go,’ they answered, without looking at her.
‘May we go through?’
‘If you pass the test.’
‘OK. What’s the test?’ Lyssa asked the sphinxes. Their eyes started to glow red and when they spoke their voices were louder.
‘When the heroes are put to the test
Their knowledge of gemstones must be the best
From each of the stones, take the first letter
You’re left with a word that’s in every way better
The first is divine, with colours of rainbow
The second is white with a bright blue glow
The third is green, wrapped in stripes and lines
The fourth is dark but the black still shines
The fifth is rich in red, like blood
The sixth is the blue of an ocean flood
The seventh is purple, clear and bold
The eighth is dark blue, shot through with gold
The last is true blue: most precious of all
What word will allow you to pass through the wall?’
Phyleus looked up at Lyssa.
‘Gemstones?’ she groaned. She knew nothing about gemstones.
‘At least it’s not physical.’ He shrugged.
‘Gods, why don’t we have Len? He would have known all of these,’ she sighed. She’d tried to make mental contact with her crew already but, like in many of the Trials so far, there was no response.
‘You underestimate your company, Captain. Wealthy prince, remember.’ Phyleus grinned at her.
‘I think I know some of these,’ Nestor said. ‘If the first is divine and rainbow coloured, it must the rainbow goddess’ gem, Iris stone.’
‘The fourth is black and shiny, so Onyx.’ Phyleus nodded. ‘The blood-red one has got to be a Ruby.’
‘Seventh is purple and clear, so Amethyst?’ added Nestor.
‘Definitely,’ said Phyleus, rubbing his chin as he thought. ‘True blue and most precious, that’ll be Sapphire. What was the order again?’ He turned to the sphinxes.
‘We will not tell you more than three times,’ they said, then repeated the puzzle.
‘OK, dark blue and gold is probably Lapis Lazuli,’ Phyleus said, frowning in concentration.
‘What in Olympus is Lapis Lazuli?’ asked Lyssa.
‘Don’t distract me,’ Phyleus muttered. Lyssa scowled at him, but held her tongue.
‘Blue like an ocean flood might be Turquoise. Or Topaz,’ said Nestor.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter which, we need the first letter and they’re the same,’ Lyssa said.
‘Excellent.’ Phyleus beamed. ‘I think green with stripes must be Malachite.’
‘Is that all of them?’
‘No.’ Nestor shook her head. ‘White with a bright blue glow.’ They all fell silent.
‘Well, what letters do we already have? Maybe we can work it out from those,’ Lyssa offered eventually.
‘We have Iris stone, Ruby, Amethyst, Onyx, Sapphire, Turquoise, Malachite…’ Phyleus trailed off.
‘Lapis Lazuli,’ said Lyssa.
‘Oh yeah. We need the order again.’
‘It’s the last time,’ warned Nestor.
‘We’ll just have to hope we get it right, then. Can we have the riddle again?’ Lyssa asked. The creatures’ eyes glowed again as they repeated the riddle. Phyleus followed along, ticking off the gems.
‘I, something, M, O, R, T, A, L,’ he said slowly.
