Page 14 of Phoenix Chosen 3

Airos lights a small fire in a clay stove, barely bright enough to cast a dim light around the shack. A couple of small glazed amphorae lie empty on the ground next to a straw bed, and the faint smell of wine drifts from their open mouths. Airos kicks them into the shadows.

“Please, make yourselves comfortable,” he says. “That’s a good stump for sitting on.”

“The ground is fine,” Kalistratos says, groaning as he leans against the wall. “Cheesus. I have no stamina left.”

“Try this,” Airos says, fishing his red gourd jug from somewhere. He uncorks it, but Kalistratos holds up his hand.

“I don’t need wine. That’ll put me out.”

“No, not wine. I’m all out of that—sad, I know. This is a herbal tea. It will aid in the quick recovery of your powers. Made it myself.”

Kalistratos takes a drink and grimaces. “Tastes like dirty swamp water.”

Airos takes the jug back and swigs from it. “Mm. There’s a good reason for that. I?—”

“Don’t really want to know it,” Kalistratos says. “As long as it helps, that’s all that matters.”

“Nearly a moon cycle,” Airos says. “That’s how long it’s been since you two were spirited away. It was Alyx who was convinced you weren’t dead, by the way. He suggested you’d been transported somewhere. I’m glad he was right. Where were you taken?”

“Right back to Earth,” I tell him. “Er, Gaea.”

Airos rubs his face and shakes his head. “Gaea, of course,” he says, chuckling. “It should’ve been obvious. And tell me… did you meet the Great Phoenix, Lord Aethereos?”

“How did you know that?”

“We haven’t been idle here, Kalistratos. I’ve spent the last month traveling between Athenos and Delphos, searching the libraries and Gnosis archives for information. I take it then you know of Umbrios, his twin brother?”

“Unfortunately,” Kalistratos says. “We were there when Umbrios overwhelmed the Great Phoenix’s sanctuary.”

“Gods,” Airos mutters. “So, Lord Aethereos…”

“He’s gone. Untilwecan revive him.”

“The egg,” Airos says reverently.

I untie the wrap and hold the egg against my chest. It’s warm. With a look, Airos silently asks permission to touch it, and I nod. He places his hand on its shell.

“So, this is what will bring him back,” he says, almost whispering. “Planted by the Great Phoenix in the womb of the Chosen omega, seeded by his mate and guardian.”

“Seeded?” I say. “Wait, but I was pregnant way before Kalistratos and I ever… erm…”

“You were pregnant with the fated egg, but you weren’t truly with child until you joined with Kalistratos.”

Kalistratos looks stunned. “Your books told you this, too?”

Airos nods. “We need to get the egg to the Great Phoenix’s temple. Alyx has gone west with the map to investigate possible locations… and to search for you.”

“But…?” Kalistratos says, sensing the hesitation in Airos’s voice.

“We’d agreed to reconvene one week ago. Alyx never showed up.”

“Dammit, that idiot… Westward, alone?”

“What’s west?” Tyler asks.

“Inhospitable land, for many reasons. Slaver territory in the midland rift between here and the coast. We need to go after him.”

“There’s no reason to stay here,” Airos agrees. “Our purpose, ourmission, is to reach the temple and restore Lord Aethereos. With Tyler and the egg safe, we have everything we need. Alyx and I agreed that if one of us found you, we would immediately seek the temple, whether or not the other can rejoin.”

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