Page 127 of Styx

Styx spoke now, her eyes narrowing.

‘He was justified in seeing the breaking

of a pact of marriage to one of his own sons,

my brother who is a River God, as an insult,

but he was not justified in his actions.’

Surprisingly, Styx was still defending her father,

but her loyalty toward me held true too.

In my hurry to be with Perses, I had not

considered how deeply this would affect her.

How it would fray her already difficult

relationship with her father.

I reached out and took her hand gently.

‘Thank you for leaving with us,’

I said to her sincerely.

Crius Cleared His Throat

‘There may be more to Oceanus’s decree,’

he murmured, stroking his long beard.

‘There have been dangerous whispers

in the winds. Something is coming.’

Pallas and Perses stared at Crius.

‘What do you mean?’

Pallas asked him cautiously.

‘What whispers do you speak of?’

Crius looked hesitant. He exchanged

a look of trepidation with Eurybia.

‘Have the prophetic dreams not visited

any of you?’ The look on Styx’s and my faces

told him that we had all been having

strange dreams too. Crius lowered

his voice and moved forward.