Theseus reached as far forward as he could against the chains to take the paper from her.Unfolding it, he quickly read the note, written in Philostrate’s familiar handwriting.
The news from his Court wasn’t good.A few monsters had already slipped through the barrier between realms and hurt several people before the monsters were dispatched.Thankfully there had been no fatalities, but it was only a matter of time.
To add to the problems, King Oberon and Queen Titania’s fighting was escalating to the point that the Court of Revels was starting to split as its members took sides.
It just reinforced that he had to see this through.He had to win the hand of Queen Hippolyta and save his Court.
“It must be serious.”Ariadne’s expression remained impassive, though she probably knew what the note said already since Theseus assumed the swordmaidens would have read his message before giving it to him.
“Midsummer is just growing more dangerous back in my Court.There was a monster attack, and some of my people were injured.”Theseus let out a long sigh and tucked the note into a pocket of his shirt.
“You must love your Court very much.”Ariadne’s voice was soft, her light blue eyes gentling in a way he hadn’t seen before.
“Yes.”Theseus forced himself to smile and bring back the lighthearted tone of a moment ago.“I’m here, aren’t I?I’m clearly desperate.”
Ariadne’s mouth twitched, as if she wanted to smirk but didn’t allow herself that freedom.“You’ve told me a lot about the Library.Do you live in the Library itself?”
“No, the castle is connected to the Library by the Grand Hall of Anywhere Doors.”Theseus flexed his fingers in the shackles.They were tingling from being pinned above his head for so long.He would have to stand for a while soon to let the blood flow back into his hands.“But the castle and the Library share much of the same architecture.”
“What is it like?”Ariadne’s keen gaze did something to him, and it started him talking.Once he did, he found himself telling her all about the palace.What it was like growing up there.Stories of himself when he was little and getting into trouble.Mostly by hiding away somewhere deep inside the Library, reading when he was supposed to be doing something else.
She shared her own stories about her early years in the Court of Sand.It sounded like a hard life in that Court, but a good one.
“Are your parents still alive?”Theseus was standing now, leaning against the wall with his hands at his sides.
“Yes.They still live in the Court of Sand, along with my two brothers and my sister.She didn’t want to join the Court of Swordmaidens the way I did.”Ariadne’s gaze dropped, her tone carrying an edge of pain.
It must be hard, leaving her family at such a young age to join the Court of Swordmaidens.How free was Ariadne to visit her family?Her father and brothers wouldn’t be welcome to visit her at her Court.
It itched at him.Yet another thing to think on when Ariadne left him alone once more.
Not that Theseus wanted her to leave anytime soon.He would happily talk with her long into the night.It hurt, knowing he shouldn’t enjoy her company this much.He was planning to win the hand of Hippolyta.
But this swordmaiden before him was already well on her way to stealing his heart.
ChapterFive
Once again, Theseus stood between two swordmaidens, waiting for Queen Hippolyta’s next task.The morning sunlight twinkled on the ocean waves as they washed against the island’s cliffs.The palace and cluster of stone homes filled the point of land behind him while a tree-covered island wilderness spread out before him.A warm breeze stirred his hair, keeping the heat of the day from being too unbearable.
If the day was warm, Queen Hippolyta was doing her best to cool it down with the ice in her eyes.“King Theseus.A giant pig is currently ravaging our island.Your second task is to capture the pig.”
“That’s it?No underhanded tests or trying to trick me into killing someone?”Theseus crossed his arms, glaring right back.
Queen Hippolyta raised a single eyebrow, as if to tell him that it wouldn’t be a test if she gave him the answer.“You have until sundown.”
One of the swordmaidens shoved a rope at him.When he took it, both swordmaidens gave him a push toward the uninhabited wild section of the island before him.
He could take the hint.Without a glance over his shoulder at the swordmaiden queen, he strolled forward.The shadows beneath the trees enfolded him as the undergrowth scraped against his arms and legs.He had to fight his way between the plants, battling for every step, until he stepped into a section of forest with taller trees, their foliage shading the forest floor so completely that very little undergrowth could flourish.
Ariadne leaned against one of the nearby trees, still dressed in her white servant’s garb despite the fact that he knew the truth.
He halted in front of her, hefting the rope higher on his shoulder.“Do you have any magic items to help with my task today?A golden lasso or a magic apple to lure the pig into a trap?”
Ariadne smirked, an expression that seemed more confident than the smiles she had given him before.Perhaps she felt free to be herself, now that she wasn’t lying about being a servant.“Nope.For this task, you are on your own.”
“Will you at least keep me company?”Theseus gestured at the forest around them.“This is a small island, but it still might take a while to locate this pig.”
“Of course.After all, who could resist your charm.”She raised her eyebrows to match the sarcasm in her words.
