Sixteen

"Absolutely not."

Chiron shook out his beard. It glistened with fresh water, indicating he had decided to take advantage of the river to cool down.

"You didn't even answer my question," I snapped, following him. "What is it about her you don't trust?"

Chiron's eyes were steely. "Bringing her on your journey will complicate things. That is all you need to know."

"What happened to being honest with me? Now you're going back on your promise." I darted ahead of him to block his path. The centaur threw his arms in the air, exasperated. I crossed my arms and raised my eyebrows. "Well? Start talking, buddy."

We had set up camp by the river. It was a little too out in the open for my liking, but the direct access to the water was nice. Zoisme was huddled next to a large boulder, her knees drawn up to her chin. She was trembling, but the milk of the poppy seemed to have taken the edge off. Paris was building the fire, and he kept shooting looks at the girl.

"I did not anticipate her presence," Chiron admitted, "and that worries me. A slave girl is not supposed to be part of your journey. It means that something has changed, or perhaps is being manipulated."

"Okay, well, if someone is manipulating an escaped slave, that's kind of cruel." Not that it was a surprise. The gods would do whatever they wanted without fear of consequence. "All the more reason to help her."

"Alexis, you have come a long way under my tutelage, but you still have so much to learn about this world." Chiron sighed and glanced at Zoisme. "You have a big heart, one that is easily manipulated. Be careful who you give it to."

"You're saying not to trust anyone. That's hypocritical, don't you think? Considering you literally told me to trust you."

"I'm the only one giving you honest advice. Whether you accept it or not is your decision," Chiron said, without even a hint of smugness. He wasn't being egotistical in his statement. To him, it was fact. In that sense, I supposed the centaur was the only one I could trust. Which wasn't all that comforting, considering he was only going as far as Troy.

"And I think Zoisme should come with us," I said, my tone final.

Chiron eyed me with a hum and then dipped his head in acceptance. "If that is what you wish then consider this matter dropped." He straightened to move away but paused. "Do not forget that I warned you, whatever may happen."

He wandered off to tend to his daughter and I exhaled an exasperated sigh. The blue and purple ombre of the evening sky was a silky, embroidered veil. Everything was picturesque, stunning. The scenery never failed to take my breath away.

The day slipped away without a word, night sliding easily in its place. Time was a funny concept in the ancient world. Days of the week had no consequence here, or if they did, I'd experience it. Each day passed like a lazy cloud. I could only guess if it was a Monday or a Friday, but no one else seemed bothered by the lack of distinction. It really showed that time was a manmade construct.

There was something nice about that notion. There was no need to rush anywhere (well, obviously, there was, but that's not the point). I didn't have to rush to work in the morning, didn't have to schedule every little thing into my calendar.

It was that absence that made me appreciate the ancient world. And here I was, running towards that structure once again.

Was running back to a life that was dictated by time and work a mistake?

"Alexis."

Paris held out a bowl of dried meat and fresh berries Chiron had picked. A peace offering. I stared at it for a moment before taking it slowly. Truthfully, I was starving.

"Thanks."

Paris took that as a concession and he sat down next to me.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"There's nothing to be sorry for. We have different opinions," I shrugged. A grape exploded in my mouth, its sweet juices sliding deliciously over my tongue. "It's not your fault that my opinions are the right ones." I smirked and nudged him playfully and he rolled his eyes with a laugh.

"If anything, I should be the one who's sorry. I'm still learning the ways of your country."

"You have a big heart," Paris said, mirroring Chiron's sentiment, "and that's not something to be sorry for."

"But you don't trust her."

Paris plucked a grape from my bowl. "You do, and I trust you."

Chiron's warning resurfaced as I broke off a piece of bread. Trust was a precious commodity. Chiron had warned not to trust anyone, but Paris had done nothing to betray me. If anything, the shepherd prince was the most honest person, including myself.

When Paris reached for another piece of fruit, his fingers met mine. Our eyes locked, an undeniable spark in that gaze. Quickly, I thrust the remaining food at him and scrambled to my feet.

"I should check if she needs anything," I murmured.

Acting like a teenager, that's what I was doing. A hormonal, crushing teen. One that ran away from the crush like a tease, instead of burying it.

I chastised myself under my breath as I made my way over to Zoisme. The girl was still huddled next to the boulder, staring at the river. She hadn't moved since I planted her there a couple of hours ago. I'd given her a damp rag to clean herself up, and some more food and water. The food had been devoured, the rag long since dried up.

Though she leaned away from me, at least she didn't move as I sat next to her. That was promising. I pretended not to notice and crossed my legs.

"You doing alright?" I asked. "Do you need anything else?"

Zoisme shook her head.

"You know, Chiron and Paris are suspicious but they won't turn away from helping you," I continued, picking at the grass. "They both can't resist helping others. They'll come around."

"But you're not suspicious."

It wasn't a question. Zoisme regarded me with eyes dark like a starless night, hardened from her time as a slave. But there was also intelligence, clear as day, in her gaze. She'd been built to survive, no doubt learned to read people.

I shrugged. "Let's just say I sort of understand the situation you're in. I was forced into a situation I didn't agree to and am now all alone, trying to get home." I leaned back against the boulder and stared at the sky. "I promise I won't ever let you go back as a slave."

"My brother and I were sold into slavery by our mother," Zoisme said. "It was the only way she and the little ones could survive. "Such is the nature of our existence." That's what she told me before I was put into the slave cart."

I dropped my gaze, shame like an arrow in my chest. "I'm sorry."

It was far from an adequate response, but nothing I said would have been appropriate. I picked at the grass, the soft blades malleable between my fingers.

"I'm now an escaped slave," Zoisme continued. The iron chains of her cuffs clinked as she moved. "Do not assume we are in a similar predicament, or that we are equal, because we are not. I am grateful for your help, Alexis, but do not make promises you cannot keep."

I watched her trudge off to the edge of the river, surprise leaving me speechless. Shoulders slumping, I brushed my hands through my hair.

"Good job, Alexis," I sighed to myself.

"Good intentions are noble if you have the character to uphold them," Chiron said suddenly. I looked up to find him leaning against the boulder.

"Ever the lecturer," I said with an eye roll, "I get what you're saying. I promised to get her to Troy and to help her disappear. I will keep that promise."

"I'm sure you will. You should get some rest. We will be leaving at sunrise. I'll take the first watch."

As if I could sleep. My body screamed in exhaustion, my feet were sore and tender and my eyes burned. My brain, on the other hand, decided against complying with the rest of my body. Nightmares, mainly, but there was an unidentifiable sense of dread every time I went to close my eyes. Like if I fell asleep, I might not wake up again.

Not that I said any of that to my companions. Chiron might be best suited to help, but I couldn't bring myself to ask more of his guidance than necessary. The nightmares were probably just my brain adjusting to the chaos I found myself.

And the dread? Probably an unconscious fear that I would wind up stuck in the ancient world forever.

Chiron wandered off to take position next to the fire Paris had built, who was now seated cross-legged at the edge of the river. I pressed my back against the cold, rough boulder, taking care to focus on the way it felt. It wasn't unpleasant, though the coarseness snagged on the silk of my chiton.

Charred wood, such a nostalgic smell, filled our makeshift campsite. It reminded me of family camping trips. All that was missing was marshmallows and campfire songs and dad's boisterous jokes carrying in the air. The last time we'd gone camping was just after my niece was born—

I sat up. No, that wasn't right. The last time we'd gone camping was when my older sister graduated high school...? No, that also wasn't right. And dad didn't like camping. Something about the smoke and bugs... or was that me? My mom?

Did we even go camping?

Details were fuzzy, but I was certain we'd gone on an annual trip. Even after my sisters started families of their own—? I had a brother and sister. Both, older than me.

Pain unfurled, its roots digging deep in the recesses in my head. Sucking in a sharp breath, I dug the heel of my palm into my temples. A headache. Just what I needed.

The ache intensified, blinding me. Ears ringing, the world dangerously swaying, I pressed my forehead into my knees with a groan, begging for it to subside. Someone could be stabbing me with a hot poker and I wouldn't even notice because the pain in my head was overwhelming. The nerves in my teeth were firing as I ground them together.

Then, as quickly as it had started, it was gone.

A hand rested on my arm, startling me. With a jump, I lifted my head and saw Zoisme crouching before me. She was like a shadow, and distantly I imagined she was quite stealthy and light-footed. I didn't even hear her approach.

Her dark eyes surveyed me with concern. "Are you alright?"

The ringing in my ears was the only indication that anything was wrong as I rubbed my face. "Yeah, I was just thinking about something."

Zoisme licked her lips and sat back on her heels. "You looked like you were in pain."

"I was?" I frowned, trying to recall what had happened. "I, um, I was just sitting here, thinking about something and then you were here."

"Whatever you were thinking of must have been painful," Zoisme coaxed.

Her troubled look wasn't smoothing away and I shifted uncomfortably. What was it I'd been thinking about? If she said I was in pain then it must have been a nightmare. Maybe I drifted off.

"It's nothing," I said abruptly. Her frown deepened but I waved her away. "Seriously. I'm fine. I'm sorry, though, if I scared you."

Obviously, that was not enough to convince her, but thankfully, Zoisme let it drop. She stretched upwards, and cast me one last look.

"I'll let you in peace, then."

She turned to go, but without thinking I reached for the hem of her robe. "No, wait. Can you stay with me? I, uh, don't want to be alone right now."

I thought for sure she was going to walk away. Our last interaction was still a prickle of heated shame on my skin, and I wondered if she was still annoyed. But then she moved back and sat beside me, our shoulders brushing. A ghost of a smile dashed across her lips and I felt the tight coil in my shoulders relax.

"I don't want to be alone either," she said.