In the Moon of Asterion (The Child of the Erinyes) by Lochlann Rebecca

Author:Lochlann, Rebecca [Lochlann, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Erinyes Press
Published: 2013-04-07T00:00:00+00:00

Aridela remained at Themiste’s side, holding her hand, until Rhené assured her the oracle was in no danger. She needed rest, the healer said, and that meant she needed to be left alone.

Neoma talked Aridela into going with her to Mount Juktas, where they would leave offerings at the temple. As they were leaving they came across Selene. Hardly anyone saw her these days, for she was always in the labyrinth with Menoetius. Struck by her paleness and the grief in her eyes, Aridela convinced her to go along, using the health of the baby as an excuse the Phrygian couldn’t ignore.

The temple priestesses came out to greet them, bringing refreshments. Aridela’s companions accepted eagerly, as the day was warm and the journey dusty. After Aridela had a drink of water, she decided to walk on to the clearing that held so many memories.

She was pleased at the appearance of the forest. The trees were thick and leafy upon either side of the path, the water in the creek cold, swift, and fresh. Wildflowers peeked from shady soil, waving as if to say pick me, pick me, which she did. Perhaps the storm of suffocating ash had missed this area altogether.

In due course the trees gave way to the clearing where she, her mother, and Themiste had brought Iphiboë last year, to prepare her for her grove dedication.

She sat on the ground and began weaving a flower necklace as she reminisced about her sister, and Isandros, her reckless cousin, her childhood nurse, Halia, and then of the day she’d brought Menoetius here, when she was ten and he seventeen. It felt like lifetimes had passed since then. He’d been young, handsome, his smiles easy and quick. Neither had any premonition of what was to come.

“My lady?”

She released a small gasp, startled by a man’s voice right next to her, and scrambled to her feet.

Then it struck her. The acrid smell of smoldering ashes.

Her heart began to pound so furiously she thought for an instant she might faint. But this was not the shade of Harpalycus. He was an older man, dressed in a typical loincloth, with a few armbands that signified he was a soldier. His hair was black but for a few streaks of gray. His eyes, too, were black, not anything like the cruel blue gaze Harpalycus had leveled upon her as he sought to make her lose control and release her hatred so he could then punish her for it.

But that smell. She couldn’t get it out of her nose, and stepped away from him even as she chastised herself. Why did this keep happening? Why did she continue to fear a dead man, when she knew he was gone?

“Who are you?” she asked. “Why do you disturb me?”

He bowed, his face and manner respectful. “I apologize, my lady,” he said. “I saw you here. I wanted to make certain you didn’t need assistance.”

She relaxed a little. “Thank you,” she said. “I am perfectly well.”

The man glanced briefly around them then he lifted his gaze to hers.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.