Page 167 of A Tribute of Fire

Again dirty looks and muttered voices were pointed in my direction.

I could only lay claim to half of the blame, though. I’d led the “attack” but hadn’t done anything to the water.

The three lead priestesses were on the dais and Antiope had joined them. Maia turned in our direction and waved me over. It seemed she’d meant for only me to come but my sisters followed.

When we approached it was obvious the leaders were in a heated argument.

“Someone has to investigate the source and see what happened to the water,” Daphne was saying.

“Send me,” Antiope countered. “I will take a few guards with me. It should only be a day’s travel there and back.”

Theano said, “You are needed here.”

“Lia is the one who alerted me,” Maia told the group, and all of them turned to face me. I wondered why she had involved me. She probably wanted me to have some credit for informing her about the fountain, given all the accusations being tossed around the room.

In a time of crisis, people wanted someone to blame, someone to be responsible, so that the world would make sense again.

And the other priestesses apparently wanted that person to be me.

I was grateful that Maia was trying to help in her own way. I wished I could tell her it was unnecessary. Since last night I’d been wondering whether I had much of a future at the temple. The eye wasn’t here. Was there even a reason to stay? I could send a message to Jason and have him help me return to Locris.

Then I thought of the vows I’d made. I’d been willing to break them to save my nation, but everything was different now. It was as if the oaths had more of a hold on me, rather than less. My word meant something to me. I’d made a promise to protect this temple and the people in it. If I ran home I wouldn’t be doing that. I wouldn’t be serving the goddess.

In my dreams Demaratus had told me that at some point I was going to have to stop running and face reality.

Maybe this was what he’d meant.

And it was time to stand still and do what I’d said I would do.

Then it seemed fate decided to put my resolution immediately to the test.

Antiope said, “The men who attacked us might have stopped our water supply. Maybe they’re planning to lay siege.”

Io had mentioned that the water from the river, which was also used in our washrooms, wasn’t safe to drink. That it made people ill. If someone did plan a siege at our gates, being cut off from clean water might lead them to getting a quick surrender.

“Which is why you’re needed here,” Theano said to Antiope. The high priestess leaned her head slightly to the right and then announced, “We should send the Locrian and her sisters to investigate and report back their findings.”

What?

Maia seemed to share in my surprise and concern. “Lia is not even fully healed yet!”

Not to mention that the temple had just been attacked. Of all the priestesses and acolytes she could have sent, Theano had chosen us? We were the youngest and had the least training.

Did she suspect what my sisters and I had done and meant to use this as a punishment?

Stupid girl, she wants to eliminate all of you while keeping her hands clean.

I hoped that wasn’t true. I didn’t want to be the reason the others might be put in harm’s way.

I didn’t have to see my adelphia’s expressions to know that they were just as confused and astonished as I was.

“She’ll be fine,” Theano said with a wave of her hand, dismissing Maia’s protest.

Antiope looked like she also wanted to object, but she stayed silent.

I could see that my mentor had much more to say but she followed the battle master’s lead and kept quiet.

The high priestess apparently considered the matter closed. “Have them pack and leave immediately.”

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