“Stop your helpless gaping and come inside already.” Akacia ordered curtly and pushed the curtains aside. Unlike most rooms in the temple, the quarters of the grand priestess were always open. Only a thin curtain served as a wall between it and the rest of the world. For this woman was protected by Athena herself and would never have to fear intruders. Such an open way of life left not much room for privacy either.

Eugenia followed Akacia into her room and kept her hands folded in front of her stomach. Despite the circumstances she felt strangely nostalgic about this. She had spent quite a lot of time inside this small room. Unsurprisingly nothing about the interior had changed. Without much focus on her senses Eugenia naturally avoided running into anything, because every piece of furniture was in its place. The same place it had been three years ago.

“Sit down.” Akacia said with her back turned to Eugenia. She swept aside the parchment she had worked on and then grabbed a carafe filled with pure water. “Of all the possible troublemakers, why did she send you?” She muttered as she filled two earthen cups with the clear liquid.

When she sat upright inside her chair with imposing charisma and a gaze even a blind girl could feel deep inside her soul, the head priestess seemed to read her like a scroll. Eugenia had taken the cup out of politeness, but after the meal at the town hall she did not feel any thirst. Especially when remembering the horrific gurgling sounds of the poisoned man.

“I should ask why you have come to Athens without any prior warning. You know that you are required to announce your arrival to the temple.” She immediately began to interrogate her.

“There was no opportunity. I apologize for my misconduct.” She lowered her head submissively.

“Even for one such as you, this was too surprising.”

“I’m sorry.” She did not understand what Akacia meant by that, but apologized anyway. “I have come from Eretria to-”

“Eretria?” The head priestess interrupted her. “Whyever would you have been in Eretria? This is not what I was told.”

“It is a long tale. I have come to the temple, because of the situation in Eretria.”

Akacia rubbed her temples and sighed. This information seemed to not sit well with her at all.

“Why did you leave the temple in Dankana? I have not been informed of this.” Akacia questioned with the fingertips of both hands pressed against each other in an attempt to collect herself.

“It was an unexpected journey.” The younger priestess said with an awkward expression.

“Out with it then. I need the details before I will listen to your problems.”

“You don’t wish to know why I was escorted here first?” She asked in surprise.

“That will become clear soon enough. It is far more important to ascertain how trustworthy my information network can be.” She said with some contempt.

“I left Dankana in the late spring before the previous summer.” Eugenia began to recall how she left her village.

“Stop. You are telling me you have left your post for more than a year?” The head priestess widened her eyes. After receiving confirmation via nod she put a hand to her mouth and made angry noises. “Dapine will have to answer for this. She has not mentioned any of this in her monthly reports.”

“Priestess Dapine?” Eugenia raised a brow. She was the head priestess in Lamia. Incidentally she was also the one that Eugenia sent regular reports to ever since she had taken over the temple in Dankana. Her name was not one she had expected in this context.

“I asked Dapine to keep an eye on you. She was to tell me every minor detail.” Akacia revealed without hesitation.

“W-What?” Eugenia was taken aback. This meant that she had been spied on by her superior! But why would Lady Akacia arrange something like this? A distant temple in a faraway village had no merit to Athens.

Akacia glanced at her between her hands which she pressed against her forehead. Her quietness was unnerving. Then she shook her head and urged her to continue.

“Dapine was always averse to conflict. Her complacency is going to earn her a stern lecture later. Continue your tale.”

“Understood.”

Eugenia resumed and told Akacia of the expedition and Typhos. The head priestess’ hands twitched for a moment when she heard that name, but she did not interrupt again. She listened to the tale of a lone blind priestess stranded on a monster’s island and how she survived each day. Then the return of the scholar and his men and the conclusion of their hard fought battle put a frown on the fierce woman’s face.

The younger priestess finished her retelling with the duty given to her by the lords in Eretria. She had openly confided in Akacia without hesitation. She only left out especially personal details, but she would not hide her intentions.

“Typhos, that arrogant fool.” She leaned back in her chair and clicked her tongue.

Eugenia had not known how deep their connection went before the young scholar had spoken of it on that fateful night. Now she could sympathize with Lady Akacia’s reaction. They were never all that close, but hearing of his demise still affected her. Yet someone of her position was used to not showing her grief or weakness, so she remained steadfast.

“You are a handful, as I have come to expect.” She addressed Eugenia directly. “You got captured by one of Athena’s greatest enemies. By her grace alone have you survived to tell this tale.”

“…right.” Eugenia nodded.

“Yet you are meaning to tell me that you wish to return to that monster?” She squinted.

“I must.”

“Are you aware that your actions are the greatest blasphemy against our goddess?”

“I… I don’t see it that way.” She shook her head.

“What you see is not reality. It is merely your dreams.” Akacia said heavily. “You have always lacked focus. The will to confront what is inevitable.” She sighed deeply.

Eugenia lowered her head and felt her throat turn dry. Even now she felt guilt for the trouble she had given her mistress so long ago. Days where she had studied the rules and prayers in this room sitting on her knees, waiting for the storm to die down. The times she had to find sanctuary from the other women’s verbal stone throws.

Akacia was strict, harsh and unrelenting, but she had never once shirked her duty to watch over all her girls trying to grow into full-fledged priestesses. Despite her role, despite her preordained path, to this woman she had always been…

“Your foolishness would have given me trouble enough, but at this moment I have much deeper concerns. You may well be fortunate to have made these mistakes at this time. Now that Lady Athena has averted her eyes from us.”

“The great and wise Athena did what?” Eugenia felt a strange tingle in her body when she heard this revelation.

“The mistress has not answered any prayer, not visited any dreams and not taken a single offering for forty-two days already. She has grown silent to our calls and invisible to our eyes.” Akacia explained while emptying her cup. All of a sudden she sounded far more exhausted.

“Lady Athena has abandoned Athens?” She could not believe it.

“She works in mysterious ways. That will not satisfy her angry followers for much longer, though. The aristocracy is planning something grand and they want her blessing for it. This is not something she would ignore.”

This was strange. Too strange. Lady Athena was wise and always saw the greater picture. Her imposing gaze was a constant reminder to Athens that she guided them. That there would be no decision under her watchful silvery eyes that defied the will of the gods. Those who chose a false path would end up failing on their own, while the patron goddess shielded the rest from their failure.

Why had she abandoned them for so long? So many weeks…

Eugenia’s heart skipped a beat. She felt cold sweat run down her neck when realization struck.

“What is wrong? I can tell that you are worried about something.” The head priestess leaned forward and grabbed Eugenia by the face. Her grip was firm and deliberate. “You know something, do you not?”

The anxiety inside Eugenia’s heart was growing as she frantically thought of an excuse, but her mind drew a blank. She was never good at lying and especially not to someone who was this sharp.

“I think she is preoccupied with another task.” Eugenia said quietly.

“You wouldn’t know which task this is, chosen one?”

“I d-don’t know for sure. I was not told anything.”

“You are not involved in this catastrophe?” Her eyes became even sharper and her face was so close that she felt the breath on her skin.

“M-M-Me?” She stammered.

They were interlocked for a while. Just Akacia’s piercing glare and a sweaty Eugenia. If she could tell something she did not let it on and equally Eugenia could not reveal her true fear.

“Tell me if she will return.” She loosened her grip and asked this neutrally.

“Lady Athena always cares for us, wherever she goes.” Eugenia replied with a pained look.

“I taught you well. You have gotten better at hiding your mistakes, if nothing else. Keep your secret then.”

Eugenia exhaled her tension when she got that response. She was off the hook. For now.

“Whatever keeps her facing away from us, this situation is dire indeed. The city is changing beneath us, something is brewing. You did not arrive here by coincidence. The situation with Eretria, I have heard of it before you arrived. You may now tell me why you were escorted here by the guards.”

Eugenia told her about the meeting and assassination plot involving Captain Irvenos that had transpired and of the representatives currently imprisoned in the town hall and how she was handed to the authority of the clergy.

“Concerning.” The head priestess was much more contemplative than before. The worry carried in her voice was of a different nature than before. “Achaeus is a snake. He always winds his way through resistance. To think he would go this far.”

“What do you mean?” Eugenia did not follow.

“You managed to get yourself caught in a deadly net this time, girl. I should throw you out of this temple right this instance.” She said coldly. Then she averted her face. “If you weren’t Kynthia’s girl I would gladly hand you over to these cutthroats for your sheer foolishness.”

Eugenia’s expression changed from surprise to a smile.

“What reason do you have to smile? Are you giving in to the madness now?” Akacia asked disgruntled.

“You really loved mother.” Eugenia’s heart was feeling unexpected warmth. Akacia’s words were harsh, distant and deliberate, but the last thing she said had changed Eugenia’s mind.

The reason for the rejection she had lived through in this temple had always been that she was special. To everyone surrounding her since childhood she was Athena’s chosen one. It was a great weight to bear, but this treatment would also earn her allies.

Lady Akacia was different. She did protect her, looked out for her and even against her own better judgement would shelter her from enemies. But she did it not because Eugenia was a divine emissary. It was because of her mother.

“I did.” Akacia said with pain in her voice. The regrets of the past clung to her as tight invisible chains.

“She often spoke of you when we sat down around the fire.”

“Not another word. My memories of her are not yours. Leave it at that.” She stood up and leaned on her desk in the back.

“I am sorry.” She realized that she had spoken out of line.

“Tsk. More importantly, what do you intend to do now? We can give you shelter. The judgement is up to Athena once she returns. Nobody here will enact self-justice.” She had changed her tune and now spoke of it as a certainty.

“I can’t stay.” Eugenia said firmly.

“I expected those words. There is a secret exit in the underground storage rooms. It leads to the trees near the palace. The guards will patrol there three times a day, so be aware.” She explained matter of factly.

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“Thank you.”

“I cannot say that I predict any good outcome for this endeavor. Whether you head for the port or try to stop what has been set into motion, you will not find the light.”

“But I have to try nonetheless.” Eugenia said as she pulled the hood over her head.

“The temple cannot interfere with politics on its own. Without Athena’s authority we are forced to stay neutral. Once you leave this building you are on your own. Next time I may not shelter you.” She looked down on Eugenia.

“I have caused you enough trouble.” She said with a weak smile.

“Trouble is part of my duty.” She replied with a smirk and crossed her arms. “Though I shall not complain if your face never appears before me again.” She really meant it too.

With that Eugenia slipped out of the room and headed for the stairs to the basement.

Akacia pulled out a necklace from her robes and gave it a melancholic look.

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As Eugenia left the dusty tunnel and forced the metal barred gate open she enjoyed the cold breeze. It smelled a bit like freedom.

While she had been sneaking around she had come to a decision. Just as Akacia said, she could have headed for the port and tried to escape. Maybe return to Sarpedon right away. It would be a lie to claim she did not want to do so.

But there was no way she could leave Therses and the others behind. Their fate was unjust. If she didn’t help them, nobody would.

Lady Athena was not here to speak judgement and the reason was painful to think about. There was only one thing that would get the goddess’ undivided attention. Lord Hermes had described that horrid punishment to her, but he had not mentioned who kept watch on her. Because it was inside the deepest ocean she had assumed it was Poseidon, but…

This grudge was too cruel.

“Medusa.” She bit her lip when thinking of her torturous pain, all alone in that place. She wanted to go there - to ease her suffering - but she had already made her choice.

The town hall was surrounded by guards. Their presence was much denser than when they first arrived. Eugenia had managed to sneak through the Akropolis with relative ease, thanks to her impeccable hearing. She always knew the movement of everything around her, be it a rodent or the heavy sandals of guards. She hid behind a tree and waited for the one gap in the circling footsteps.

She dashed towards the building and hastily climbed up the wall. There were enough gaps for her fingers to barely slide into. She had always been good at climbing, which troubled the people who did not expect so from a blind girl. This time she would not fall.

After jumping to a window and dragging her weight up to a stable point she took a few deep breaths. She was hanging from the second floor and her toes were barely finding hold. From what she had remembered of the layout she should be close to the guest quarters they had moved the others to.

To be certain she pressed her ear against the boarded window and listened to the voices inside. There were two people talking.

“…that was not part of the deal!”

“My hands are tied. Until the Eretrians are executed you will stay in confinement. Leander is making a great racket out there and I will not endanger the operation by letting you roam free.”

“This is a stinkin’ pile of-!”

“He will send someone else to interrogate you before long. Prepare yourself and do not spill a single word. I will have one of my own men ready to silence you before you do, just in case.” The stern voice said with finality and then left.

“Raah!” The person left behind kicked something and a loud rumble followed.

Eugenia gulped and kept climbing westward. If she was right about who those voices belonged to… Not that she had time to figure the rest out.

When she moved a few rooms over she found a couple of open windows. This time the voices from inside were quite clear.

“You have to release us! This is injustice! We had nothing to do with the poisoning!” Therses banged his hands against the locked door while shouting.

“Would you quit it already? I’m trying to take a nap here.” Bion said with a yawn.

“Do you always have to act the fool? This is a serious situation! We will be executed!” Therses turned around and grabbed Bion by the collar.

“And screaming at the door will save our lives?” The slave replied with a disinterested look.

“No- It’s- we… we have to try something at least! They took Irvenos and Eugenia to who knows where and are going to strong-arm Eretria. Do you not care about any of this?!”

Bion put a hand on the shaking boy’s arm and let his dull eyes return the furious gaze.

“But I am sleepy.” He said deadpan.

“Urgh. You are such a useless freak!” He let go of Bion and stormed back to the door.

“You are pretty quiet, Master. Usually you’d be right at his side to complain in tune.” Bion leaned his face on one hand and watched Agapetos who was perched against a wall. His expression was utterly hopeless.

“…have we been sold out? Was Irvenos truly sent by the lords for this dastardly plan? How could they… To sacrifice someone of influence like me…” The old medico was muttering to himself, still devastated.

In this depressing picture the light from the window was shortly blocked out and then an unsteady girl fell inside. Eugenia hastily rose up to hide her embarrassing fall, but Bion had totally seen it.

“Am I dreaming already? My savior wouldn’t look that clumsy though if I were.” The apprentice medico said with a shrug.

“Eugenia!” Therses forgot to hit his fist against the door when he looked over the shoulder.

“Are you alright?” She asked the three men while dusting off her clothes.

“That’s what I should ask you!” Therses rushed towards her and grabbed her hands. “Did they do anything to you? How did you escape?”

“Ah.” Agapetos was snapped out of his dark thoughts when he saw this unfold. With some effort he heaved himself up and straightened his back to appear steadfast. “They sent you to the temple, correct?”

“That’s right. I snuck out to come see you.” She confirmed and tried to subtly free her hands from the fisherman’s anxious grasp.

“This it too dangerous. You have to leave before they find you!” Therses immediately lost his cool.

“We can escape together.” Eugenia pointed at the windows.

“Ahem… not that I would have trouble climbing such a small distance.” Agapetos cleared his throat and interjected. “But we already thought of that. If we were to be caught during our escape they would execute us on the spot.”

“I can guide you safely around the guards.” Eugenia said confidently.

“Really? Can you get us past the gate and into the city? That would be a neat trick.” Bion said sarcastically.

“Oh” She realized that there was only one entrance and exit to the Akropolis, so even if they made it out of the town hall, there was no way to escape.

“Even if we could escape, I can’t run.” Therses said with a twisted expression. “The Archons are interrogating Irvenos right now. If he confesses then Eretria will be in dire straits.” He had apparently already accepted that Irvenos was an assassin sent by the Eretrian aristocrats.

“We can scarcely do anything to prevent a disaster at this point.” Agapetos was resigned. “We have no allies in this place. Even Archon Leander distrusts us now.”

Eugenia tried to think of something. There was something that was really bothering her. She just needed to focus on that!

“This Leander seemed to be at odds with Achaeus.” She recalled.

“The Archons have different ideologies and duties. Leander is representing the commoners and merchants' interests, while Achaeus controls the military and the port.”

“What of the third Archon?” Therses asked.

“Topos is the spokesperson for the aristocrat’s interest. He is generally neutral in these matters.” Eugenia recalled from her vague memories.

“So he won’t tell Achaeus off.”

“We are doomed, time to give up.” Bion said lazily.

“Not if I can bring Leander on our side.” The words just seemed to come out by themselves. Everyone looked at Eugenia.

“He has no reason to trust us.”

“He seemed reasonable.” Eugenia insisted.

“Think about this calmly. Even if you managed to meet him, how would you convince him that we aren’t involved?” Agapetos tried to reason with her.

“I will find a way.” She said with feigned bravery.

“Should you succeed and free us, that would still not save Eretria.” Therses said with a shadow over his face. “Not as long as Irvenos lives.”

Bion glanced at the other young man and then patted Eugenia’s shoulder encouragingly.

“Nothing can be done about this for now. Just making it out of this place alive would be a great boon.” Agapetos was a little more pragmatic when it concerned his life. “I am ashamed to ask this of a young woman such as yourself, but I beg of you Eugenia, if you truly believe in yourself, find Leander and convince him of the truth.” This old man, with all his wrinkles and receding hairline, bowed before a mere child.

“I will do everything I can.” She swore.

“I want to come with you. Climbing these walls can’t stop me.” Therses pulled a small meat knife out of his garments and furrowed his brows. “And if we find Irvenos first… may Athena have mercy on his corrupt soul.”

“Okay, take it easy fisherboy.” Suddenly Bion laid an arm around Therses’ shoulders and pulled him close. “If you leave right now, what will the guards do when they check up on us? That will create a bigger clamor than the release of the Titans.” He nodded towards Eugenia meaningfully.

She understood and climbed out the window.

“Damn it all! Why am I so useless?” Therses sank to his knees and hit the ground with his fist.

“Thank you.” Eugenia said softly and then left the window.

“Heh. Not what you wanted to hear, hm?” Bion patted him on the back and then yawned again.

----------------------------------------

She carefully climbed alongside the façade again while the gears turned inside her head. Where would she find Leander? He could still have been inside the town hall, but he might also have left to investigate Irvenos' ship. How could she sneak past the gate?

While deep in thought she almost lost her grip and had to hold onto the sealed window. The wooden plank was surprisingly loose and tore off! Her heart stopped for a second as she dangled in the air. It was like her stomach was turning inside out. Her arms already hurt, but she had to pull herself up with muscle strength alone.

With a last desperate move she grabbed on to the windowsill and forced her head over the edge. In the next moment she was grabbed by a strong hand and dragged inside. She panicked and flailed around, trying to punch the person, but she only hit their open hand. The struggle ended fast when she was let go and hit her behind.

“What d’ya know? A priestess and an adventurer.” The familiar coarse voice of captain Irvenos greeted her. The sound of dozens of fluttering scarves was also a good hint.

Eugenia tensed up. She had not expected to meet him here. Unlike Therses she had no knife to protect herself.

“Kept the scream in yer throat. Quick thinking.” Irvenos complimented her and then leaned against the wall in a relaxed pose. “You don’t need to be afraid. Even I won’t harm a priestess. Divine retribution’s a hassle.” He joked.

“You… why did you do it?” She pulled herself up and faced him.

“A job’s a job. Can’t be too picky with the current situation.” He shrugged and adjusted his scarves to be tighter. They had loosened up for some reason. Eugenia could also hear that he was breathing unevenly. The way he leaned against the wall was odd as well.

“They will kill you.” She said sadly.

“That’s a possibility. Always is.” He chuckled hoarsely.

“It must be hurting.”

“Oh, ya noticed? Plenty perceptive for a blind lass.” He sank down the wall and let his injured leg lie down loosely. He had been keeping up a strong façade until now. Despite his injuries he had pulled her up when she was about to fall. “I had to resist their second rate interrogation a bit. Could’ve been a lot worse if they got a few layers deeper.” He wiped some blood from above his scarred eye. His words were mysterious, but Eugenia felt that he was being honest.

“You weren’t hired by Eretria, were you?” She shot into the dark, only following a feeling.

“Haha. Those cowards wouldn’t do somethin’ so outrageous. They really thought some girl could solve their problems. Put all the burden on yer small shoulders.” He slapped his knee as if it was a hilarious joke.

“Archon Achaeus staged the assassination on himself.” The voices she had heard when passing by this room had definitely belonged to them. Now it seemed almost obvious. The way Lupus had gotten the cup with the poison was too convenient.

“Worked wonders, didn’t it? And I take the fall. ‘cept I wasn’t supposed to really fall so hard. Can never trust those noble types.” He coughed and Eugenia could have sworn that she heard a wet sound. “You should’ve stayed in the temple and waited it out. Achaeus’ll be going into the next phase of his plan the moment your friends are dead.”

“I can’t let that happen.” She shook her head.

“Hehehe.” He cackled. “So righteous. I want ta strap ya to the front of my ship, so my enemies will be blinded by your light.”

“Don’t you feel any remorse?” She asked with furrowed brows.

“If I bite it here, I’ll be remorseful in the Underworld. Otherwise I’ll be a lot richer and far away from this erupting forest fire by tomorrow.”

“You know Achaeus' plan?”

“Mostly. But all you need to know is that there will be war.”

“War? With Eretria?” Her ears twitched.

“Thinkin’ way too small time there. Achaeus is rightly mad. Ambition’s reaching higher than Mount Olympus.” He chuckled again, interrupted by his own cough. “Just get outta the way of trouble, lass.”

“If you told Leander what you know, we could prevent this.”

“The hero of the pirate war is not the brightest. He can use a spear, but never held an abacus.” He commented dryly.

“Do you believe Achaeus will hold to his end of the bargain?” Eugenia asked honestly. She had already experienced betrayal. And she knew how a clever man could trick people into doing what they didn’t want.

“…it’s not your concern priestess. If you want to butt heads with Leander I won’t stop ya. But I always bet on the strongest bull.”

“I see. I will pray that you can return to your ship then.” Eugenia said with a dejected expression.

“Hold up… if ya want to get to Leander, you’ll have an easier time by talking to his assistant.” Irvenos called after her before she reached the window.

“Assistant?”

“He seems to be new. Some Rhodian with a terrible accent. If anyone’s not been bought by Achaeus yet it would be that guy.” He lowered his head and exhaled in pain. “He’s in the guild house of the merchant district. I’m not sure why I’m tellin’ you this. Must have hit my head harder than I thought.”

Eugenia tilted her head quizzically and then climbed out the window. She silently prayed for Irvenos, despite knowing Athena was not listening.

----------------------------------------

It was quite fortunate that the guards at the gate didn’t know much of what was going on. A priestess was generally allowed to come and go around the Akropolis and because there were no reports of her escaping the temple, there was no alertness at all.

The streets of Athens did not change at all over the years, they only became more clustered. Despite only having left for the other districts occasionally she felt relatively at home with the city. The stands around the edge of the upper class district at the foot of the Akropolis reminded her of the times when she tagged along with the other priestesses in training. She really had to tell Medusa about that one story from the time they met a fortune teller…

But she couldn’t. She couldn’t talk to her until she finished this trial. What would she think of this situation? Medusa had never cared for human matters much after all. Eretria was the first human city she must have seen in centuries. Eugenia could already imagine her reaction to Athens.

“All human cities look the same to me.”

She smiled. And she wiped away a single moist tear.

“Excuse me, could you kindly tell me where the guild house is?” She asked a gruff merchant.

He just pointed over his shoulder, not aware that she was blind of course. Her hood was too deep in her face, as intended. But the motion was enough to tell her the direction. It was not far, so she managed to reach the fence really fast.

Guilds for professions were unheard of until recently. It was a new idea that the Archons implemented for easier control of the city. It was not popular with the other aristocrats, but it made life a bit easier for the commoners.

And this guild in particular, the merchant guild, was by far the most developed. Owls were flowing in and out in great amounts every day. Eugenia didn’t know much more about it sadly.

She stepped inside and was immediately hit by the cool air. The insides were made of stone and thus cooler than the outside. She could hear a couple of people wander the hallways or the lower levels, but nobody in the main hall. She carefully moved across the stairs and to the first floor. It was common knowledge that the more important someone was the higher they would live.

Eugenia touched the plates on the doors that had engraved names of their owners. All unfamiliar names and titles. When she reached the end of the hallway she pressed her hand against the door, but it was opened at the same time, so she instead held her hand against a man’s chest.

She hastily retracted her hand, but to her shock the man grabbed it strongly. She could even feel his accelerated heartbeat through his fingers. His mouth shook a few times as he searched for words.

“Eugenia.” He said with a mix of shock and awe.

“Zosimos?”

Realization struck like an arrow from Artemis’ bow.

In her search for a way to save her friends, the priestess met another acquaintance. A reunion unexpected, but fateful nonetheless. She would soon realize the merchant’s role in this trial.