"No man or woman born, coward or brave, can shun his destiny."
― Homer, the Iliad

Alexios woke thinking that his head might split open. The sun was rising over the cedar trees, a bird was chattering happily in one of its branches. The warrior slowly sat up. Old wounds ached far more generously when he'd had a little too much wine.

The fountain glugged water, a marble goddess was kneeling, pouring out her ever-flowing pot into the surrounding pond. Alexios splashed some water on his face, taking a sip of some. It tasted cold and metallic.

Was it a dream? He wondered.

It might as well have been. Eudora, beautiful and brazen, was nowhere to be seen. He closed his eyes, remembering how her brow had furrowed, how she bit her lip when-

'There you are!'

Kian marched over to him, Hero in tow.

'Where is Eudora?' she asked pointedly. Her hair was mussed, there were remnants of khol around her eyelids. She looked as though the prince had thoroughly enjoyed her the previous evening.

'I saw you with her,' she accused, her voice rising. 'I saw you chase her into the garden. Now where has she gone?'

Alexios rubbed his temples. It was far too early to be dealing with shrill women, in his opinion. 'Oh don't excite yourself priestess. I'm no worse than that god you worship so well.'

Kian snorted.

'May he forgive us then… and you most of all,' she said, hurling a gob of spit to the ground, next to his sandal.

Alexios was in no mood for this. He stood to his full height. 'I gave her nothing she didn't ask for,' he replied.

'No!' Hero cried. 'We are doomed! And we have you to blame for it!' She was quickly becoming hysterical, tears brimming her eyes, hair wild and flowing about her head. 'We have lost everything!'

'What's going on here?' Myron had entered the garden, eyebrows raised at the scene. Hero promptly threw herself into his arms. 'Eudora has gone! And we no longer have the fortune of Apollo on our side!'

Myron laughed loudly. 'Oh gods, we never had him on our side. Those are all just stories.' He looked around for support, but no one could seem to meet his gaze.

'Well… she did cast down lightning on those soldiers…' Kian added slowly.

'Where would she have gone?' Alexios asked, more to himself than anyone.

'What does it matter now?' Hero asked, desolate. 'We are all ruined.'

The loud bray of a trumpet caused everyone to look toward the palace. It happened again, louder. Hero's face drained of colour.

'What does that mean?' asked Myron.

Hero did not answer him, instead she began running up the path to the palace. 'Hades take these women and their quick feet,' Alexios muttered to himself.

When the horn sounded again she stopped abruptly, turning so she was facing the sea. On the slope they had a clear view of the green-blue waters which surrounded the island. Today they were marred by the sight of a fleet of ships approaching. All with black sails.

'Gods above,' Kian murmured.

Alexios felt his heartbeat thump in his chest. 'We need to move. Now.'

'Now!' he yelled again when everyone remained still. He grabbed Kian's arm and began hauling him up the hill.

'H-how did they find us?' the boy asked, breaking out into a run as they climbed a steep stairway.

'I have no idea. There's something amiss.'

As they approached Nestor's high walls he noticed servants and guests frantically moving about. Dressed in only a tunic, Alexios was ill equipped for battle. He needed his sword.

'To our rooms Kian,' he commanded. Giving the boy a task would calm him down. 'You'll need a shortsword as well,' he added.

Men from around the castle were buckling swords around their waists and sliding armour over their heads. Alexios was heartened to see some men from the Adrestria, even more so when he found Barnabas.

'I thought this was supposed to be a respite!' he called out happily. 'Looks like we are never far from some sort of trouble, eh?'

'Where's Kassandra?' Alexios asked.

He shrugged his shoulders. 'I thought she was with you.'

'Zeus' cock,' Alexios spat.

'What's all this about then?' Stentor had pushed his way into the conversation, infuriating Alexios further.

'We can't find your devil of a half-sister,' Barnabas said casually. 'Don't worry, she's probably off with some serving maid.'

'No she's not, she's run off with the priestess,' Stentor replied, matter-of-fact.

'What?' Alexios roared.

The company took a step back.

'I know, I was confused as well,' Stentor said, shrugging his shoulders. 'I thought that she wanted-'

'Hold your tongue,' Alexios commanded. 'Something has happened, Eudora and Kassandra have left and now we are about to be sieged by that warrior in the black armour.'

'She must have known!' Kian said. 'She knew something bad was going to happen here. That's what she was trying to warn us about!'

'We can't stay here,' Alexios said. 'Tell the men of the Adrestria. Those soliders are about to burn this place to the ground. It isn't safe.'

Barnabas and Stentor stared at him for a moment.

'Go!" Alexios shouted. ' I will meet you where we have stowed the ship. Hurry!'

Breaking out into a run, he turned to the direction of his rooms. Kian was close behind him. There was another sound from the horn, people in the palace began to scream.

'Don't listen to them!' Alexios said in reply. He heard the slap of Kian's sandals behind him.

Finally they reached their rooms. With shaking hands, Alexios opened the door. Kian dashed in front of him, gathering their supplies.

'Steady now,' Alexios said.

His heavy breastplate and greaves were stowed on the Adrestria. He would need to make do with just his sword for now.

'Ready?' he asked Kian. The boy was stoic, his jaw set. He gave a curt nod.

'Good,' Alexios said, patting him on the shoulder. 'Let's go.'

By the time the third horn had sounded, the soldiers in dark armour had made landfall. Hero was caught in the melee of courtiers and servants. 'Father!' she shouted over the din, 'Father!'

He was easy to spot, standing on a balcony, sword clutched in his hand, ready for battle. 'Father!' she shouted once more and then ran to meet him.

'Hero!' he called back, pushing through some of his own soldiers to meet her. He gathered her up into his arms. 'You shouldn't be here!'

'You cannot win against them!' she cried. 'There are too many!'

'I sent your sisters down into the caves to take shelter with the other women. If any of the men find you-'

'Did you not hear me? You cannot win!' she yelled once more, gathering his face between her two hands, trying to convince him of the fact.

A men wrenched her off, she kicked in the air.

'Hero, you must do as your father asks!' It was Myron.

'How dare you!' she said, pummeling his chest with her fist. 'Unhand me!'

'Hero,' he said softly, turning her around so they were facing one another. 'Hero, it is not safe here. You must go, please.'

'No,' she said, tears leaking out of her eyes. 'No, I can't leave him.'

Myron gently tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. 'But you must. You must leave. Promise me.'

'Come with me,' she pleaded.

'My place is here, with the other Cyrenites. We will defend your home Hero. Promise me you will go,' he said.

She closed her eyes, she could not bear to look on his face.

'Promise me,' he asked one more time. She nodded.

It was only open sea ahead of them.

Eudora felt her stomach churn with terrible anticipation. The Daughters of Chronos were said to be a shadowy group- one that could bend time and reality. She had heard stories that the members would creep around villages at night, stealing newborn girls to raise as priestesses of their order. Not one of them knew her own origin; her fellow cult members were her only family.

'I have never been to Ogygia, but I have heard it spoken often enough in stories,' Kassandra mentioned as she steered their craft.

'Indeed,' Eudora added. It was difficult for her not to use her hands when she spoke. The sound of her voice was still foreign to her. She was surprised by how soft it was, how she did not have to work hard to produce enough sound. She touched her fingers to her lips once more.

'Are you going to tell me?' asked Kassandra.

Eudora looked over at her, cocking her head.

Kassandra smiled. 'Why you now have a voice through which you can speak to me.'

Eudora had been wondering that herself. 'If I tell you, you will think me strange and unnatural.'

'I already find you strange and unnatural,' Kassandra said. 'The look of you has changed as well.'

Eudora had not peered in a glass since the night on Aegina, but she felt different. It was as though she were walking through the world heavier. She'd been wretchedly seasick on the skiff as well, only being able to take small bites of bread and wine.

One day, when Kassandra had pulled into a port to fetch supplies, she looked over the boat to see her reflection. Though the water was murky, she could see that her hair had darkened to a muddy honey colour. Her face and arms were also dusted in freckles and was sunburned. Strips of white flesh were already peeling off of her shoulders.

She had no idea how many days they had been at sea either. The skiff was small. They had barely enough room for supplies and their money was dwindling. Eudora had been able to procure some drachmae from bartering her silver bangle. She was sure that the god would not mind now that she had gone and impulsively given up her maidenhead.

'I know he had you,' Kassandra said. 'I knew it from the moment I saw him look at you on the Adrestria; that he wanted you, I mean. All wide-eyed and wondering, sneaking glances at you. All men are fools, but my brother is, especially.'

'I am now out of holy favour, I suppose. Our order expected us to not know men.'

'And now you do,' Kassandra said.

Eudora only nodded.

'I've known men. But I prefer women. If you ever get around to deciding to try again-'

'No,' Eudroa said quickly. 'No there can be none of that. I must prepare myself for the trials with the Daughters of Chronos.'

'Don't you worry, I am not interested in tasting what my brother has already had to drink,' she said with a wink.

Eudora could feel herself blushing, her already ruddy cheeks blooming bright red.

'My goodness you still blush like a maid. I suppose he wasn't thorough enough,' the warrior-woman added, chuckling to herself.

'Let me steer for a little while,' Eudora suggested, desperately trying to change the subject.

Kassandra waited until Eudora's hand was on the rudder to let go. She loosed her bedroll and placed an old shirt over her head, blocking out the midday sun.

'Keep us close to the shoreline,' she commanded, voice slightly muffled by the linen. 'Our little boat could not handle larger waves. It might be worth putting a word with Apollo, even if he is cross with you.

If a larger ship catches us to us, we are doomed.'