that.
An epic scowl on my face, I wiggle back, rubbing the finger marks on my wrists and thinking about Poseidon. Between Beta Sinta’s oracular dream and my out-of-control mouth, there’s no doubt the God is sticking his trident where it doesn’t belong. When Gods dabble in the affairs of men, anything can happen. It’s definitely not something to ignore. If my God Father wants Beta Sinta and me together, he must have a very good reason for it. Or at least I hope so.
* * *
We stable the horses at Pan’s Pavilion, a completely innocuous inn on the west side of town. Why Beta Sinta is entering a conquered city with so little fanfare is beyond me. What’s the point of taking over a realm just to wander around like a nobody?
He laughs when I ask. Laughs . What is wrong with these people?
“If anyone finds out who I am, we’ll be thronged,” he explains. “Better to just be a nobody if we want to make it to Sinta City before winter.”
I guess that explains his avoidance of populated areas up until now. I roll my eyes. “Oh, the woe of being adored.”
Beta Sinta grins. “It’s a hard life.”
I harrumph. Too bad I made that vow not to hit him. It would be pretty satisfying to smack the smug look off his face right now.
The five of us head straight to the market. The streets are narrow and shaded in the inn’s vicinity, but the closer we get to the agora, the more they widen, letting the afternoon sun beat down. It’s as merciless as Zeus on the top of my dark head. I can’t help wondering where a glacial lake is when I need one. Or a hat.
The architecture changes near the heart of the city, becoming ornate. Temples dot the central neighborhood, a steady flow of people moving in and out of them for prayer.
I insist on going into a sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon. There are only a few coppers in my pocket, along with the obol I wouldn’t even consider giving up. That coin is for Charon, and it’ll stay in my pocket until the day I need to pay the ferryman to row me across the Styx and into the land of the dead.
Settling on my knees in front of a huge statue of the Sea God, I bow my head, say a silent prayer of safekeeping for my friends at the circus, and then put two of my three coppers into the polished bronze bowl at Poseidon’s feet. It’s not much, and Poseidon’s followers are many, but I hope my coppers will eventually find their way to providing for people who need them more than I do.
Beta Sinta kneels beside me and takes a handful of silver coins from the pouch at his side, dropping them next to mine. My eyes practically pop out of my head at the sight of so much money.
“I usually give to Athena and her cult.” He shrugs. “But since we’re here…”
Carver, Flynn, and Kato all kneel and give up a silver coin as well.
After the holy man bestows a blessing on each of our bent heads, we head back out into the blinding sunlight. The heat sinks into my scalp, driving me crazy. Squinting and fanning myself, I look around at the stone buildings adorned with fluted marble columns and carvings of creatures and Gods. What I see makes the geography of our convoluted travels finally click into place.
“This is Velos,” I say.
Beta Sinta glances at me, seeming surprised. “You’ve been here?”
“No, but Apollo and Artemis are everywhere, and Velans worship the twins.” They’re on nearly every facade, in all their naked glory. “Velos depends on game from the forest to the west. Along with the market, meat and leather are what make the city prosper. It’s logical to worship the Gods of archery and the hunt.”
“How do you know so much about Velos? The circus travels a route farther to the west.”
Hours of schooling and a tutor with a whip? “I’ve met people, heard things,” I say offhandedly.
Beta Sinta stops, his mouth flattening in obvious irritation. “Help me, Cat. Or at least tell me the truth. I know when you’re lying.”
“Oh?” My heart trips over its
An epic scowl on my face, I wiggle back, rubbing the finger marks on my wrists and thinking about Poseidon. Between Beta Sinta’s oracular dream and my out-of-control mouth, there’s no doubt the God is sticking his trident where it doesn’t belong. When Gods dabble in the affairs of men, anything can happen. It’s definitely not something to ignore. If my God Father wants Beta Sinta and me together, he must have a very good reason for it. Or at least I hope so.
* * *
We stable the horses at Pan’s Pavilion, a completely innocuous inn on the west side of town. Why Beta Sinta is entering a conquered city with so little fanfare is beyond me. What’s the point of taking over a realm just to wander around like a nobody?
He laughs when I ask. Laughs . What is wrong with these people?
“If anyone finds out who I am, we’ll be thronged,” he explains. “Better to just be a nobody if we want to make it to Sinta City before winter.”
I guess that explains his avoidance of populated areas up until now. I roll my eyes. “Oh, the woe of being adored.”
Beta Sinta grins. “It’s a hard life.”
I harrumph. Too bad I made that vow not to hit him. It would be pretty satisfying to smack the smug look off his face right now.
The five of us head straight to the market. The streets are narrow and shaded in the inn’s vicinity, but the closer we get to the agora, the more they widen, letting the afternoon sun beat down. It’s as merciless as Zeus on the top of my dark head. I can’t help wondering where a glacial lake is when I need one. Or a hat.
The architecture changes near the heart of the city, becoming ornate. Temples dot the central neighborhood, a steady flow of people moving in and out of them for prayer.
I insist on going into a sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon. There are only a few coppers in my pocket, along with the obol I wouldn’t even consider giving up. That coin is for Charon, and it’ll stay in my pocket until the day I need to pay the ferryman to row me across the Styx and into the land of the dead.
Settling on my knees in front of a huge statue of the Sea God, I bow my head, say a silent prayer of safekeeping for my friends at the circus, and then put two of my three coppers into the polished bronze bowl at Poseidon’s feet. It’s not much, and Poseidon’s followers are many, but I hope my coppers will eventually find their way to providing for people who need them more than I do.
Beta Sinta kneels beside me and takes a handful of silver coins from the pouch at his side, dropping them next to mine. My eyes practically pop out of my head at the sight of so much money.
“I usually give to Athena and her cult.” He shrugs. “But since we’re here…”
Carver, Flynn, and Kato all kneel and give up a silver coin as well.
After the holy man bestows a blessing on each of our bent heads, we head back out into the blinding sunlight. The heat sinks into my scalp, driving me crazy. Squinting and fanning myself, I look around at the stone buildings adorned with fluted marble columns and carvings of creatures and Gods. What I see makes the geography of our convoluted travels finally click into place.
“This is Velos,” I say.
Beta Sinta glances at me, seeming surprised. “You’ve been here?”
“No, but Apollo and Artemis are everywhere, and Velans worship the twins.” They’re on nearly every facade, in all their naked glory. “Velos depends on game from the forest to the west. Along with the market, meat and leather are what make the city prosper. It’s logical to worship the Gods of archery and the hunt.”
“How do you know so much about Velos? The circus travels a route farther to the west.”
Hours of schooling and a tutor with a whip? “I’ve met people, heard things,” I say offhandedly.
Beta Sinta stops, his mouth flattening in obvious irritation. “Help me, Cat. Or at least tell me the truth. I know when you’re lying.”
“Oh?” My heart trips over its
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