Page 95 of A Tribute of Fire

“Did you enjoy it?”

“What was it like?”

Suri waggled her eyebrows at me suggestively.

“Was it a long kiss or a short kiss?”

“How did you meet him? Was he someone you grew up with?”

“Where is he now?”

In my dreams. I wondered how they’d respond if I gave that answer. I suspected the inquiries and teasing would amplify, so I stayed quiet.

We entered the gymnasium and I came to a stop so quickly that Zalira smacked into me. I apologized and she stepped around me while I took in the massive room.

It reminded me of the temple, with twenty-foot-high ceilings supported by large wooden beams, but that wasn’t what had surprised me.

There were women of various ages engaging in combat. Some were doing hand-to-hand fighting, boxing, wrestling, and there were others practicing battles with all sorts of weapons. Staves, swords, spears, axes, knives. I heard wood hitting wood, metal clanging against metal, grunts and shouts as fists hit flesh. It smelled like sweat, which wasn’t surprising, given how hard the women were working and that it seemed hotter in here than it did outside.

They moved like my regiment back home. None of these women were novices.

No wonder Artemisia had defeated me so quickly.

As if I’d summoned her, she smacked her shoulder into mine, hard.

“Stay out of the way,” Artemisia growled as she entered the gym with her laughing friends.

Most likely her own adelphia.

I internally thanked the goddess for giving me such decent and kind people to become sisters with.

There was a large dais against the farthest wall and I watched as Theano entered the room flanked by Daphne and Maia. I caught Maia’s gaze and she smiled at me with her eyes. A fourth woman was with them. She had fair skin and very light brown hair that was shaved on both sides and longer on top, where she had a series of intricate braids interwoven to make one giant braid that hung down her back. Her face was scarred and she wore a leather breastplate that had obviously been designed for her, given how well it fit.

“Who is that?” I whispered to Io, feeling a bit awed.

“Antiope. She’s the battle master. Others say she used to be a Scythian.” At my quizzical expression she elaborated. “They were a race of warrior women who ruled themselves.”

“Why would she come here?” I asked. Ilion did not seem like a good place for women.

“Probably for the same reasons that so many of us have. I’ve never asked and I never would. She’s too scary for a conversation.”

I already liked Antiope. She reminded me of Demaratus with the confident way she held herself.

Theano stepped forward and held her hands aloft, meaning to gain our attention.

All the battles ceased and the room quieted.

“Kneel,” she said, and almost as one, the entire body got to their knees. I was a beat behind, copying them. Then they prostrated themselves on the ground, hands in front of them, faces nearly touching the floor. I did the same so as to not draw attention to myself, but it felt strange.

Theano’s voice boomed above me. “We kneel before you now in humility to honor and worship you, who is above all other beings! We dedicate ourselves to you, to your eternal cause of vengeance. We ask for you to send your savior to wreak your punishment upon those that deserve it.”

Although I couldn’t see her face—not only because of the veil but because I was face down—it felt like that last comment had been directed specifically at me.

“Ilion has become hard-hearted against you and your ways, and the only way to clear out the blasphemy is for your savior to rain down terror upon those who would deny you and your laws. The time is nigh and we ask for the strength to carry out your furious and terrible will.”

After a beat, the people around me started to stand up. I did the same, but I was very confused. The high priestess hadn’t followed the format Maia had just taught me that morning, and the prayer Theano had offered had been so unlike Io’s I wasn’t sure what to think.

When Maia and Io spoke of the goddess, their words were filled with talk of love and peace and kindness.

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