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All about him sounds of family and life, of reunion and joy. But here, the stillness of Xenia’s tent warned him.
“Lady Xenia?” he called out. “Xenia of Athens?”
He heard the gasp of a woman, startled, then a ragged sob. He froze, unsure of how to proceed. There was another voice. He could hear it faintly, another woman speaking, soothingly, in hushed gentle tones.
He waited, fearful of calling out again. But he would not leave without news.
“A moment, please.” The voice was close, as if the woman were standing on the other side of the tent wall. “Let me calm her.”
“I will wait,” he assured her.
The wind blew, threatening the flame of his lantern. He paced, his ears straining to make out the interior’s happenings. But the words were whispered, too muted to make out.
He stared at the tent, willing someone to come out.
And Elpis did.
“Elpis?” His relief was instantaneous. He moved forward, clasping her shoulders. “You are here. And well?”
“My lord?” she choked out. “Ariston? But you…you cannot be here.” She seemed to droop in his hold, so he steadied her. “You are dead,” she whispered.
Chapter Eleven
“I am here, Elpis.” His tone offered little comfort, he knew. But his wife may yet wait for him in Xenia’s tent.
“You died,” she insisted. “You were struck down…”
“I was struck down but, as you see, I live.”
She shook her head, “But you… It’s because you died.” Her voice wavered and she pulled herself from his hold.
“Is my lady wife well and within?” His patience was wearing thin. “What has happened?”
Elpis shook her head, faster and faster. “No. She is not within… She was left in Athens.”
He froze, staring at her in surprise. Anger, pure and unfiltered, spilled from his lips. “Left behind?”
Elpis raised her hands. “Do not wake Xenia, I beg of you.” She glanced over her shoulder towards the tent.
“You may well beg, Elpis, for I will beat you soundly if you do not speak plainly.” He felt the tightening of his jaw, the curl of his lip.
He cared little for Elpis’ fear or Xenia’s nerves. He would know everything – now.
“She was ill.” Elpis looked away, her eyes avoiding his. “But she was not alone. Her sisters kept her. She could not make the journey to Aegina. She could not…” She shook her head again. “Her sisters were to care for her until she… until she….”
Ariston stared at her, his throat tightening. “Until?”
“Her head… She fell, coming back from the temple and… cleaved her skull.” She was shaking her head again, her arms wrapped about herself. “I’d been with my family, readying them for our departure. When I took them to the docks, I saw that neither Galenus and Xenia, nor your lady were there. I ran back to his home, to help if they had need of me.”
He turned from her, listening to her words with growing alarm.
“Galenus was gone…as was Nikolaos. Xenia was…screaming uncontrollably. She could not speak, but wailed and cried for Medusa.”
Ariston spoke, unable to control the anguish in his voice. “For Medusa?”
“She wept and cried out. Stheno said the sight of Medusa was too great, for her wound was violent to behold – or so Stheno said. In truth I did not ask to see our lady… Xenia’s wails stirred such fear…” Tears streamed down her face. “I could not bear to see her so, not after everything she has endured.”
She was not dead. If she was…he would know it somehow, he would feel it. She was alive. “You did not see her? You did not see her wound with your own eyes?”
