Page 75 of Crown of Serpents

She rasped, “Can we take a break?”

Kleos lunged, forcing her to jump back. He did not wield a weapon. After all, she didn’t need to learn battlefield combat. Instead, Kleos taught her how to escape a man’s grasp should he ever corner her, showing her how to inflict enough pain to break free and run.

His face was unusually serious. “Five more repetitions of the last move, then you can have a drink.”

Andromeda frowned, lowering her dagger. It had grown heavy in her exhausted arms. “You are taking this more seriously than I expected.”

Kleos relaxed his stance. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Well … I thought you volunteered to teach me as an excuse to spend time with me.”

Her cheeks warmed at her own statement. Kleos had been relentlessly seeking her company since the orchard visit. They'd walked on the beach, and he'd insisted on sharing meals. It wasn't an outrageous assumption.

A grin spread across Kleos’s face, and he winked. “Maybe it’s both.”

“Why?” Andromeda pressed on. It bothered her that he wanted her to learn to defend herself — though she didn’t understand why. It was a necessary skill to survive. Yet, somehow, the vigour with which he had taught her frightened her more than his wanting to spend time with her. She enjoyed his light-hearted jokes and easy friendship, but Kleos’s urge toprotect her from harm — she knew that was something else. She wished she had the courage to voice the real question gnawing in her mind, “Why do you care so much about my safety?”

Kleos shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, I can’t always be around to save you from the giant sea serpents, can I?”

Mischief sparkled in his eyes at that. Andromeda poked his muscled arm with her finger.

“Very funny.”

“It was, and you know it. The only reason you’re not laughing is because of your pride.”

Andromeda rolled her eyes, suppressing a smile.

A few moments later, Kleos asked — a little too casually, “Why do you want to learn to fight?”

“To defend myself.”

“Right.”

His expectant gaze burned on her skin, and Andromeda averted her gaze, sighing. She knew he expected to hear more about her reasoning. Of course, it was always good to know some self-defence, but, like a bloodhound scents game, he sensed that there was more to her sudden desire to learn how to wield a dagger. Kleos was surprisingly sensitive behind the loud-mouthed, eccentric mask he slid on around the other sailors.

“Well … I’m not sure where I’ll go after this mission…”

“You won’t stay with us on Seriphos?” Kleos interjected, his voice thick with a sudden tremor.

“It’s too risky,” she replied. “I know Perseus said he wouldn’t instate himself as king, but even if his stepfather rules, he’ll have duties at Seriphos’s palace after overthrowing Polydectes ... either as Dictys’s heir or guard — and where Perseus goes, you follow so —”

Andromeda broke off, guilt twisting in her gut even though she knew it was the right decision to leave her new-found friends. She would always prioritise her kingdom’s needs over them — even though she was no longer Joppa’s princess. The emptiness in Kleos's eyes mirrored the ache in her chest. She reached for his hand. “You’ll both be in the centre of Seriphos’sgovernment, whether you plan to or not. I can’t risk staying at a foreign court or being associated with its courtiers. There will be emissaries coming and going. What if someone recognises the lost princess of Joppa?”

Kleos nodded understandingly, though the sadness in his eyes remained. “So, where will you go?”

“I don’t know yet.”

He tilted his head. “Where would youwantto go?” Kleos’s eyes suddenly regained their sparkle.

Andromeda shrugged. “I’ve never really thought about it ...”

She had never even dared dream of foreign lands, even when she was little. There had been no point, for her life had always been tied to Joppa’s throne, dedicating herself to raising the next generation of princes and princesses in the palace.

Kleos interrupted her thoughts, “Well, I’ve always wanted to travel the world. I would start in Athens, of course, to see the Acropolis. Then, I’d go north to Thebes and Delphi and travel all the way east … to the Black Sea. Maybe I’ll even see some Amazons there. Queen Hippolyta is rumoured to rule there over a realm called Themiscyra.”

A faraway look softened his features, transforming him into a boy filled with dreams.

“That sounds amazing,” Andromeda breathed, the possibility of adventure stirring within her.

---