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“Grace,” she said softly, a kind smile on her face.
“Sophia?” I asked hesitantly. While she looked different from the sculpture, which I supposed had been a human interpretation of her appearance, the voice was familiar. How was she here? Had she scrounged up some power the way Hygeia had when Dare had needed her?
“In the flesh, as it were.”
She held up an arm, examining it with mild interest. TherealSophia was more buxom than the statue had portrayed, with a rounder face and wide, guileless eyes. I wasn’t fooled though—there was a steely core beneath that affable exterior.
“How are you here?”
Perhaps I should have been more deferential, but I was starving and confused, and a little bit concerned that I was hallucinating this whole thing.
Sophia clasped her hands in front of her, looking at me for a long moment. “Gaia’s hold on the lesser deities is slipping. Between the very generous offerings of the agathos staying at Ephesus—nowhere near as potent as you or your daimons’ blood, but good enough—and our gaoler being distracted… Well, I won’t be able to stay for long, but I’m here now and I’ll stay with you as long as I can. You have been very calm and very brave in extraordinary circumstances, Grace. You should be proud of how you have conducted yourself.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, fighting back the unexpected urge to cry. I was so dehydrated, I was surprised I had enough liquid in me to produce tears. I’d been floundering and struggling and questioning every decision I’d made this entire time, and it was soniceto hear some reassurance that I wasn’t screwing everything up. “Can you give me any news from Ephesus? Is Dare okay? Did he make it to Tartarus?”
Sophia was silent for a long moment, and I held my breath waiting for her response.
“Your Philotes is fine,” she said carefully. “But no, he did not make it to Tartarus.”
“Oh.” I rubbed hard at the empty space in my chest where the bond was meant to be. “But he’s okay, that’s the most important thing. I just need to get back to Ephesus, to the pit—”
“The pit is closed,” Sophia interrupted. “It was only meant for one.”
“Closed,” I repeated numbly. “But Dare didn’t make it to Tartarus.”
We’d failed.
We’dfailed.
“Your focus needs to be here, Grace,” Sophia chided, gesturing vaguely at the battlefield. “The earth rumbles, its displeasure clear. The agathos army are drawn here, and wherever else Gaia wants them, through a trail of fresh food and water—both are strong motivators. And the scorpions are coming, at the very least. Perhaps others. Win the battle, Grace, then turn your attention to the war.”
“Right.” I blew out a steadying breath. “You’re right, of course. This is the most pressing concern.”
Even if I wanted to, even if the pit was still open, I doubted I’d have been able to leave Wild on the frontline of a battle when push came to shove, but I was definitely feeling pulled in multiple different directions.
“What about Riot?” I asked, my voice trembling. “I didn’t see him down there when we flew overhead.”
“Arete had a job for him. She will bring him here when his job is complete. They will all find their way here.”
“What kind of job?” I wrapped my arms around my waist, feeling incredibly helpless. Was he okay? Was he stressed? Riot didn’t necessarilycarefor responsibility…
“I’m sure he’ll tell you himself.” Sophia glanced at the massive beast observing our interaction closely. “An interesting choice of travel companion you have here. Hello, Typhoeus.”
“Oh! Is that your name? Typhoeus?” He nodded once, but looked genuinely disgruntled about it. “Do you prefer when I call you ‘T’?”
Another nod, slightly less irate.Okay, T it is.
“You’re being kind of rude, you know,” I scolded him gently, pushing his face back as he pressed it harder against the fence. “Sophia and I are just talking. You don’t need to physically butt your head in.”
T pushed back a little harder, and I gave him my best school teacher face until he flopped onto his back with a huff, wriggling until he was lying alongside the fence, eavesdropping in a slightly less confrontational manner.
“AProphêtis, indeed,” Sophia murmured, her gaze turning pitying. “This is a new world, Grace. A new series of challenges to navigate, a new set of rules to establish. You may fantasize about a quiet life after this battle is over and you are reunited with your soul bonds, but I would caution you against such dreams. The work of rebuilding is only just beginning.”
I nodded, resigned. She wasn’t telling me anything I hadn’t already worked out for myself. Those peaceful visions Bullet had shown me of my future in the dreamscape wouldn’t be our norm if they came to pass, but our reprieve. That didn’t bother me so much, though. As long as we were together. I just needed them back.
All of them.
“You summoned me for my wisdom, and here it is: everything you need for success is here. There is no secret weapon, no ancient sword that ensures victory, no magical amulet that will grant you the power to overcome your enemy. You have your voice, your conviction, an army, and an aggrieved immortal already at your disposal. Use them.”
