Page 84 of Crown of Serpents

He held his breath as the shorter guard, his eyes narrowed, scrutinising Kleos's ill-fitting armour. “I thought Nikias and Darius had the night shift.”

Perseus’s heart hammered. “They did until the captain of the guards reassigned us. Now, are you going to hand over your post, rookie, or would you rather stay here all night?”

The guard, unfazed, persisted, earning a panicked nudge from his companion. “Why would Kyros reassign you on such short notice?”

Perseus could feel Kleos tense beside him, ready for a fight. They would probably be able to overwhelm these boyish-looking guards with relative ease, but could they do it before one of them rang the alarm bell to the right of the entrance?

“Well,” Perseus drawled, “he thought it a fit punishment since Eustathius here vomited on his shoes, and I happened to be standing next to him.”

The guards stared at him as Kleos, seizing the opportunity, swayed dramatically, leaning on Perseus for support. “I wouldn't teesht hiiim,” he slurred, “he's a lil' pi-pissy... about it.” Kleos and let out a loud belch.

The taller guard jumped aside, wrinkling his nose, but the smaller one cocked his head. “You didn’t even bring your lances.”

Perseus let out an exasperated sigh. “Obviously! We are coming straight from the tavern, so give us yours and hurry along now.”

The guard didn’t move, his eyes fixated on Perseus’s face. He stood two meters from the alarm bell. It would take him three steps to reach it, and damn them all. Perseus flexed his fingers, his hand hovering over his sword.

Finally, after an agonising pause, the gangly guard nudged his companion. “Come, Kallias. Let’s just leave them to it.”

Perseus’s body slackened almost instantly as the tall man handed him his lance and dragged his friend along.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Kleos elbowed him in the ribs. His friend raised his eyebrow in playful indignation. “Really? I vomited on Kyros’s feet?”

“If the shoe fits.”

“I swear to the gods, Perseus; I’m never going on a secret mission with you again,” Kleos declared, even as he chuckled and shook his head.

Suddenly, there was a rustling in the shadows.

Perseus drew his sword. “Who goes there?”

Silhouettes emerged from the gloom. “Be at ease, Perseus,” a familiar voice whispered. “It’s us.”

Orestes and the crew stepped into the moonlight, clad in ill-fitting finery. Their weapons were poorly concealed beneath their cloaks. Perseus knew their disguises were far from perfect, but it was too late to turn back.

Tonight, they would overthrow Polydectes. Or die trying.

Perseus’s gaze was drawn to Medusa as she stepped out of the shadows, following the men. She donned an onyx chiton, the dark fabric a stark context against her pale skin, a bronze broadsword strapped to her belt. Darkness swirled around her, the shadows accentuating the sharp lines of her face and hugging her curves. He sucked in a breath, forgetting the weight of his responsibility for a blissful moment as he took in her beauty.

Then, it all came crashing back as he realised that if she was here, that meant that Danae was indeed trapped within the palace walls. Medusa's eyes, brimming with sorrow and guilt, confirmed his fears.

He nodded at her reassuringly, signalling that he already knew. Facing his crew, he announced, “We have encountered a complication in our plan. Dictys and my mother have been captured. They are in the palace dungeons.”

A murmur rippled through the assembled men.

“What does this mean for us?” Orestes asked.

The question hung heavy in the air. They couldn't abandon their mission — Dictys's life hung in the balance. If they did not strike tonight, he would be executed come sunrise. But neither could they ignore the danger his family faced. Polydectes wouldn't hesitate to use them as leverage.

Medusa's voice cut through the silence, “You should continue as planned. Infiltrate the feast and make Polydectes pay. I will free Dictys and Danae myself.”

She stepped forward, her cool hand a comforting weight on his arm.

Perseus’s stomach grew tight at the thought of her risking her life to save his family. “No.”

“No? Do you have a better plan?”

“No.”

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