Her shout wasn't loud, but as if he had heard it above the crowd Tyre's head turned and he locked eyes with his wife for the first time in two seasons. His smile faded as recognition set in, the image of her familiar face fighting its way through his drunken stupor. His make-shift litter stopped dead as Tyre attempted to scramble out of it; his men thuroughly confused. Shaking his sandal free of the blanket, Tyre stalked over towards the now silent throng.
Aegina shrunk back from his looming form, bumping into Eiro's chest. His gold eyes searched her face for any idea of what was happening. She tripped over one of Eiro's sandals, and when he caught her elbow to steady her, he could feel the tension in her muscles, like a deer ready to flee.
His touch sent a shock rippling across her skin, clearing her mind and making her straighten. She shook him off and regained her balance, the fear receding a bit. She'd left the house, she'd run away, and now she'd deal with the consequences. She was strong enough to take whatever punishment she deserved. Tyre halted, squinting and off balance, in front of her. His stare made her blush and look down, completely ashamed.
"What," Tyre had to speak slowly, trying to keep the slur from his voice, "are you doing here?"
"I..."
"Who is looking after," he burped loudly and several onlookers giggled, despite themselves, "the house?"
"Um...Leda?"
"Leda!" For the first time, Tyre seemed to grasp the situation. His voice turned deadly quiet. The people behind the couple strained to hear while pretending to be uninterested. "You left our house, our property, our livestock, with Leda?"
Aegina's gaze was firmly afixed on her sandal. She'd only heard his voice get quiet like that once, when his father tried to tell him not to go adventuring. They hadn't spoken since. "I..I sold the livestock."
"You...sold our livestock." His brown eyes were tight slits, the anger glinting like sparks from Hephaestus' forge. Aegina opened her mouth to answer, but a resounding slap sent her to the ground instead.
Her cheek burned, and her eyes filled with tears. She could taste blood from where she'd accidentally bit her tongue, but, she told herself, she wouldn't cry, wouldn't complain. She deserved this, her mind chanted, you're just a woman, you shouldn't have run away.
Tyre spun on his heel, completely sobered, and signalled his men. They pushed back the crowd, making a path through the throng. Tyre offered a hand to Aegina and helped her stand, but his jaw was still tight with anger. He grabbed her wrist and she followed demurely behind him, as he made his way out of the parade.
Eiro had been swept aside by the burly men accompanying Tyre. His head spun. When...her husband, yes, he had to be her husband, had hit her he had to restrain himself from leaping on the man. But it was not his place to help her, he'd reasoned. Aegina had run away from her duty, he knew that. Best not to get between a husband and wife. He nodded imperceptibly. Always better to stay uninvolved. He turned and pushed his way through those who'd stayed to gawk at the retreating forms of the heroic band.
*~*~*
"Proud Daughter"
"Victorious Daughter"
"Wise Daughter"
"What do you see?"
She stared intently into the single eye in the hag's face, her grey eyes widening at the events playing out before her.
"Is there nothing we can do Mothers? Is it all carved into stone?"
"Oh Athena..."
"You should know better than that."
"Nothing is ever certain."
"But.." Her thin lips pursed, and faint lines traced her smile.
"Already it has begun, Daughter."
"Already it has ended, Daughter."
"Life moves as it is supposed to, Athena, you cannot oppose it, though some will try."
Athena bowed, her tightly pinned curls never moving an inch. The lines evened out, and her skin was once again as smooth as a new born's. "Thank you, Mothers. I understand now." She turned to leave the dank cave, still unsettled by her gruesome surroundings, but one whithered voice stopped her.
"It's not so bad, Athena."
"I quite enjoy being ugly and old, don't you sisters?"
The trio broke out into cracked and coughing laughter, and Athena hurried through the passage way back into the light.
*~*~*
Eiro wandered the dusty streets of Berora, mind troubled. His fingers caressed the little vial in his tunic pocket. It was reassuringly real, but disturbing in its own way. His debt had been paid; she'd acknowledged his help and thanked him, so why did he still feel like if he left now, he'd be abandoning his honor?
It was early, still morning, but Eiro felt the need for wine anyway. It would make his stomach settle, at the very least. He ducked down a narrow alley and made his way to his favorite inn, a very no-questions-asked sort of place.
Eiro was thankful for that policy today. He didn't feel much like talking.
