Page 18 of Stolen Fates
Amazons had once been Megara’s ally in the fight against the Empire, but Leukos couldn’t fathom why one would seek him out now. The ones who’d survived the Emperor’s trackers were in hiding and had refused to join any rebellion.
“You can come down now,” the Amazon called out.
After some hesitation, Leukos climbed down from the tree but kept his distance. His hand hovered close to his sword.
The Amazon cocked her head, her entangled dark brown hair falling over her shoulder. She pushed it back with a flick of her hand and observed him with keen interest from atop her horse. After a moment, she gave a long whistle. “Well, aren’t you the handsome one? It’s no wonder that shepherd’s daughter wanted to take you home with her.”
He brushed off her comment with a dismissive silence, accustomed to such remarks over the years. Most people, women especially, failed to see beyond his outward appearance.
What concerned him more was her mention of the shepherd’s daughter. Exactly how long had she been following him?
“Who are you?” he demanded at last, frustration slipping into his voice. He needed to keep moving while the sun was up, yet her presence piqued his interest.
“My name’s Phoebe.” She didn’t offer any further information.
He narrowed his eyes. “What do you want?”
The intensity of his glare had most people scurrying away from him, but she held her ground. “I came to warn you.” Her matter-of-fact tone reminded Leukos of Nisos. The Silver Shields always spoke to the point. “The Blood Wolf wasn’t fooled by your little trick, pretty boy. He’s headed your way.”
Leukos stiffened before scouring the trees as if the tracker was already upon him. “How do you know?”
Phoebe shrugged. “I saw him with my own eyes… well, eye.”
Had Nisos failed to lure the Blood Wolf his way? Had he been captured? Leukos didn’t dare ask until he knew more about the Amazon’s intentions. Without another word, he went to his horse, grazing by the river, and jumped atop its back.
The Amazon, Phoebe, was still watching him.
Waiting.
“Why would an Amazon travel all this way just to warn me?” he asked.
It made no sense to him. Before tracking their rebel group, the Blood Wolf had hunted Amazons, capturing or killing dozens of them by order of Emperor Caius. All Amazons knew to stay far out of his reach if they wanted to stay alive. And yet this Amazon had willingly gone near the Rasennan tracker and put herself in danger.
Why?
Phoebe adjusted the bow at her back and rolled her neck. “The goddess who sent me asked me to keep a close eye on you.”
Out of all the possibilities, the involvement of an immortal surprised him the most. “The Huntress sent you to watch over me?”
“Not the Huntress.”
He kept his emotions in check, although her answer caught him off guard. The Achaean Twelve were gone. And the Amazons didn’t care for any of them, except for the Huntress. “Then who?”
Her response was delayed, her lips shaping into a secretive smile. “What do you care? From what I’ve observed, you’re not much for worshipping.”
“I have my reasons.”
The Sea God had done nothing to save Megara. And the North Wind had let Rasennan assassins kill his mother in the dead of night. Why should he worship them when they’d so easily forsaken their most devoted followers?
The Amazon’s smile grew wider. “And yet, despite it all, they seem to care a great deal about you, pretty boy.”
He doubted it, yet he didn’t like the knowing look in her eye. As if she could unravel all the secrets he’d worked so hard to conceal.
“Why?” he finally asked.
“Who knows? But I’m here now and can help you escape the tracker.”
His frown deepened. “I can handle him myself.”
