Page 90 of Love and Death
“You mentioned my name,” I say, turning back to Hermes. “Why?”
“Oh, yes. I have a message for you.”
I blink up at him in surprise before quickly asking, “A message? From whom? What is it?”
Hermes stands straighter at this and clears his throat before announcing, “Hypnos. Hazel, Eros, Death. I will await you at the summit until dawn’s break.”
It takes me a second to understand that he has just given me the message and isn’t simply saying random words.
“Thank you for the message, Hermes,” I say, glancing up at the mountain and its winding trail to the summit as I let out a deep sigh.
“What is wrong?”
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to make it to the summit with them, let alone before dawn.”
Hermes’ face scrunches up in thought as he steps over to crouch down beside Eros and Death.
“I will carry him,” he says, pointing to Eros. “But I cannot carry Death up the mountain.”
“Then I am at a loss.”
Pain grips my heart as I try to swallow back tears of frustration, we aresoclose. We’ve been through too much,losttoo much to fail now … there must be a way.
There has to be, I just need to think.
Turning away from the mountain, I wrap my arms around myself as I look out over the endless plains. My eye catches on distant movement, and I watch it dance across the pale gold of the grassland, grateful for the momentary distraction.
Slowly, my hands drop to my side as I take a step forward, my brow knitting together.
No, it can’t be.
A distant whinny.
“Knax,” I shout, jumping several times in my excitement. “Knax, here, boy! Over here!”
The shape takes form as he gallops across the plains, splitting the tall grass as he weaves his way through it, ghost-white and gleaming in the dark light of early morning. The earth trembles beneath my feet as his hooves thunder out the rhythm of his approach.
Slowing, the white stallion throws back his head, tossing his pale mane as he nickers in greeting before lowering his head to gently nudge my shoulder with his nose.
“I’m glad to see you, too,” I laugh, briefly running my hand down the bridge of his nose before he lifts it out of reach. “I need your help, Knax ... Death needs your help.”
“I do not think the horse speaks the same language,” Hermes informs me.
Knax pushes past me, suddenly noticing Death lying on the ground. I watch as he nervously paws the ground, bending to nuzzle his companion before shuffling back a few steps and doing it again, soft, worried snorts escaping him.
“I think we speak the same language. Not with words, but with shared understanding.”
“Perhaps you are right,” Hermes says with a soft hum, tilting his head to one side as he watches the stallion. “Here, help me get Death up onto his back, and then we must begin the climb.”
I slowly step closer to the white horse, lifting my hands in front of me as I make small sounds so as not to startle him. He lets me near, his coat rippling at my touch, but as soon as Hermes moves to touch Death, Knax rears up in protest.
The messenger god backs away as the horse calms to blow frustrated breaths from his nose that kick up the pawed-up dirt beneath.
“It’s okay, Knax, we want to help,” I say, trying again as I slowly kneel to pat Death’s shoulder and then pat the horse’s back.
It takes another minute for the stallion to fully calm down before we try again, and this time he lets us.
Tears spring unbidden to my eyes as I watch the bronzed god lift Death’s form onto the stallion’s back. Knax snorts, but remains perfectly still while Hermes finishes securing Death in place.
