The Pandora Curse (Greek Myth Series Book 4) (10 page)

“I care naught for her. She means nothing to me.”

“I don’t believe you, Vara. I’ve seen the way you look at her. I’ve also noticed that she wants to be near you.”

“That’s not true.” Vara paced back and forth. “She hates me just like every other man, woman, and child in Corinth.”

“Then why would she run away from her nursemaid and stow away with you?”

“I don’t know,” she snapped. “Mayhap she was hungry.”

“Ah.” He polished his crystal further. “I heard you instruct your men in the great hall to give her all the food she wanted. Unless they’ve disobeyed your orders, I don’t think she followed you for food.”

“My men would never disobey me.” She stopped, suddenly realizing what she’d just said.

“My point exactly. You had her fed, washed, and clothed. You even gave her a tent to sleep in last night. And most of all, you didn’t hurt or kill her father. Face it, Conqueror, this girl holds a place in your heart.”

She was quiet for a second, then bit her bottom lip. He could see the side of her jaw quiver.

“My heart is already filled. With darkness. There is no room for anything or anyone else. But if it will convince you to stay, then I will take care of the girl.” She looked over to one of her guards and shouted. “Make certain the girl is looked after.”

“No, no, no,” he said with a laugh and shook his head. “I said I wanted you personally to be responsible for her. That means you are the one who feeds her. You are the one who washes her face and tells her a story at bedtime.”

“I don’t do that.” Her stubbornness was almost admirable. For a warrior. But still, he’d learned enough about her in the past few days to know her one weakness.

“All right, then.” He got to his feet and collected his belongings. “I guess I’ll be on my way.”

“No, wait.” She grabbed his arm, and he turned to see the desperation in her eyes that he had wanted to view. “I can’t do it because I know nothing about taking care of children.”

“Well, weren’t you once a child without a parent, just as she is right now?”

She looked back to the girl and bit her lip again. She nodded, and he decided she was too choked up to answer.

“Then just give her all the things, all the attention that you wished you had in your childhood and you should do just fine.”

“But I - ”

“Do it and I promise I’ll stay and advise you during the Athens games. But if you refuse, then I will leave right now.”

He hated to say that, but he knew it was the only way she was going to agree to the task. And in his plan, taking care of a child was just what Vara needed to nurture the child within her that had been scorned so many years ago.

“Then I demand you help by advising me how to take care of her, Seer.”

“What did you just call me, Conqueror?”

Frustration washed over her. “I will not call you by your name unless you call me by mine.”

“All right, then. I will. Now try it again.”

She hesitated, looked around, then spoke softly. “Will you help me . . .
Nikolai
, by advising me how to take care of her?”

“That’s better. And yes,
Vara
, I will. Now if we are all settled, I’d advise you to make certain Agatha has had food to break the fast before we continue on to Athens.”

She looked at him in silence. The silver was back in her eyes and so was a light from within. He knew he’d done the right thing.

Zetes walked over to join them. “We are ready to continue on to Athens, Queen Vara. Shall I instruct the men to move on out?”

Her eyes stayed locked with Nikolai’s as she answered Zetes. “Yes. But not before I have something to break the fast.”

“Of course, m’lady. How careless of me.”

“And make certain to bring enough food for the child too, as she will be eating with me.”

“Aye,” Zetes answered, then left them staring at each other.

“You are hiding something from me, Nikolai.”

“I don’t know what you mean, Vara.”

“There is a secret locked within you. I see it when you look into my eyes. There is something you’re not telling me, but I promise you I will find out what it is.”

With that, Vara turned on her heel and headed for the child.

Nikolai sat down on a rock and watched her go. He was pleased, very pleased. The child was exactly what she needed in her life. Now she would be forced to take a look at her past. And when she did, she would attune with the goodness that was locked away inside her the day
The
Pandora Curse
took over her life.

A sour smell overcame him, and he checked the bottom of his boots to see if he’d stepped in a mare’s nest. The rock moved beneath him, and he nearly fell to the ground. He jumped up, first noticing the green color of the rock which he had thought was nothing more than moss. The rock took new form, and Baruch appeared in front of him. Nikolai looked quickly back in the direction Vara had taken, hoping she hadn’t noticed. She was too engaged in eating to see what had just happened. He then nudged Baruch behind a bush.

“Baruch, I’m sorry I sat on you. I didn’t know you were there.”

“I heard the whole thing, Niko.” He rubbed his head as he spoke. “She’s too stubborn. She’ll never change and you’ll never get those vials filled. You may just as well give up now.”

“No, you’re wrong. My new plan will work. She is going to be taking care of the child, Agatha.”

“You do jest. She doesn’t have a kind bone in her body. She can’t care for a child. She almost killed me in that tent. As soon as she heard she had to be nice to old mares and rats, she pulled her sword and tried to run it through my heart.”

“Nice to rats?”

“Ooops.” Baruch covered his mouth. “I didn’t mean to say that.”

“That wasn’t part of the plan. What else did you tell her?”

“I added that,” he confessed, kicking at the dirt on the ground. “Right after I told her she would lose her skills one by one if she didn’t listen to me.”

“Lose her warrior skills if she wasn’t kind to rats and old mares? You were only supposed to convince her something was going to happen in the future. She was supposed to want to keep me around to find out what. I said nothing about making her change her ways. She is supposed to do that of her own free will.”

“She will. As soon as she finds out she’s no longer a good warrior, she’ll give being a lady a try.”

“Egads, Baruch. You could have foiled the whole plan. What else did you say?”

“Nothing.” He kicked a stone and watched it roll away.

“Baruch?” Nikolai folded his arms and tapped the toe of his boot impatiently as he awaited the minion’s answer.

“Oh, all right. I told her she was to give up her sword, too. If she didn’t do all these things, she’d have a doomed future.”

“No, Baruch. You cannot trick her into becoming a lady and leaving her warrior days behind. She has to do it by her own choice. She has to want to change, because if she doesn’t truly want it in her heart, she will end up going back to her old ways.”

“I was only trying to help.” He wrung his tail between his hands in worry.

Nikolai shook his head slowly, and ran his hand over the pouch containing the vials. “With that kind of help, these vials will never be filled. We need to be careful how we approach her. And I can only hope my new plan will work in our favor.”

Eight

Vara didn’t talk to Nikolai at all on the rest of their trip to Athens. She was too upset that he’d insisted she watch over Agatha.

She didn’t know anything about children. And she didn’t want anything to do with the daughter of her prisoner. It just didn’t feel right. She glanced over to Agatha who was climbing around the supply wagon as they traveled. The wagon hit a bump and the girl nearly fell out. Nikolai rode to her side and caught her from falling. He scooped up the child in one strong arm and rode up to meet Vara.

“She almost fell out,” he told her.

“Well, she should hold on tighter,” Vara replied, looking straight forward instead of at the child. She didn’t like to look into the little girl’s eyes. It was too unsettling.

“Take her on your horse.”

Before she could object, Nikolai deposited the little girl atop Vara’s horse in front of her. Agatha gripped onto the horse’s mane.

“She can’t ride with me!”

The thought horrified Vara. Having the child so close to her unnerved her.

“Why not?”

“Because . . . because I ride fast. She might fall off and get hurt.”

“Then I’d advise you to put your arm around her and hold her, so that doesn’t happen.”

Nikolai rode away from her before she could say another word. Fear coursed through Vara like she’d never felt even in the midst of a battle. Hold the girl? This was the daughter of her enemy. The princess of Corinth, and the land she’d overthrown. Didn’t Nikolai realize how awkward this was? Or did he purposely do this just to see how she would react?

The girl started slipping, and without thinking, Vara reached out and placed one arm around the child’s waist. Agatha looked back to her with wide blue eyes, but didn’t say a word. Then she turned forward, and ever so gently leaned back against Vara.

Vara felt a warmth within her heart. It was strange, but felt good. Before long, the rocking motion of the horse walking lulled the little girl to sleep. Vara looked down at her, so innocent and trusting. She, too, had been this way at one time in her own childhood.  Emotion welled up inside her, and she felt tears forming in her eyes. She was thankful when Zetes broke her train of thoughts with his announcement.

“My queen, we are here.” He nodded to Athens Castle just ahead. She nodded back in acknowledgment, but couldn’t find the voice to speak. The sound of the horses’ hooves echoed against the wooden drawbridge as they crossed the moat and rode through the open gates of Athens.

Multi-colored pennants flowed from poles announcing the Athens games. Music filled the air and crowds of people milled about the courtyard. Venders called to potential clients, selling their wares, and an old woman approached her with bare feet and a basket of fresh cut flowers in her hand. Agatha stirred in her arms and rubbed her eyes as she awakened.

“A pretty flower for your pretty daughter?” The old lady held out a long stemmed rose to Agatha, and the girl eagerly took it. The old lady kept pace beside them, holding out her hand for payment.

“She’s not my daughter,” snapped Vara to the old lady. “Agatha, give it back.”

“Can’t I keep it?” she asked in a small voice. “Please?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

Nikolai rode up next to her then, and she wished he hadn’t. He looked at her and smiled. Something else she wished he hadn’t done.

“I see you are doing a good job of taking care of Agatha. I didn’t think you had a heart big enough to actually buy the child a flower.”

“I need a coin for the flower, my lady.” The old woman kept sticking her hand up toward Vara.

“You didn’t buy that for her, did you?” Nikolai’s voice held an extreme note of disappointment.

How could she ever admit she didn’t want the child to have a flower? She looked back to Agatha who also had disappointment in her eyes. The child held out the rose to Vara.

“You can give it back,” the little girl said.

“Give it back?” Vara forced a laugh and glanced over to Nikolai. “Whatever for?”

“Then pay for the flower, my lady,” came the old woman’s cry. “I have several children to feed. I need the coin.”

Vara sincerely doubted a woman that old had any children at home at all. Still, she didn’t want to look selfish in Nikolai’s eyes, and she knew the only thing to do now was to buy the child the flower. She reached into her pouch and pulled out a coin and flipped it to the woman to stop her from following. Nikolai gave her an approving nod and directed his horse in a different path.

“Are you happy you have your flower?” she asked Agatha, feeling defeated.

“Yes. I am happy.” She rubbed the soft petal against her cheek and looked up to Vara. “Thank you.”

Surprised, Vara couldn’t answer. No one had every told her thank you and meant it. Yet, she could see the child was sincere. The flower meant so much to her, yet it meant nothing to Vara.

Jewelry and gold, weaponry and horses, these were important - not flowers. Winning competitions and gaining a title or prize were the things that really mattered. Why would this little girl - the daughter of the man she’d taken everything from and imprisoned - be thanking her for a flower? A reluctant smile tugged at her lips.

“Don’t get used to it,” Vara said, instead.

The sound of swords clashing and the wood of archers’ bows creaking, brought a feeling of renewed strength to her being. These were the Athens Games. The competitions that showed which competitors had strength and power. Which ones were to be honored and admired. And who would win the prizes. She would be amongst these winners. She was the best.

She breathed in the sweat-filled air, taking in every tinge of competition into her lungs. She loved to compete. She had to win. She wanted the prize, the fame, the glory. She had to have it all. With Nikolai by her side, she would now know which games to compete in, so she would never have to feel the humility of losing.

Nikolai had said she wasn’t a lady. That bothered her, but she pushed it from her mind. She didn’t care about being a lady. Ladies sat like obedient dogs ready to lick their master’s feet if so commanded. She was no fool. She would never agree to put down her sword and give up her warrior ways, even if the ghost of her mother had warned her to do it.

“Find a place to set up camp,” she called to Zetes. Then she looked over to the falconer. “Find out if they have any falconry challenges.”

“Aye, my lady.”

“Kennelgroom,” she commanded next, “be certain to rest the dogs. I’m sure there must be a fox hunt scheduled.”

“Of course, Queen Vara. As you wish.”

She slid from her horse and then held out her arms to help Agatha to the ground. The girl reached out for her without hesitation, which surprised Vara. After Vara had seen her father killed, she’d never trusted anyone again. Yet Agatha had seen Vara imprison her father, and still she trusted her. Or so it seemed.

“I like my flower,” said Agatha, pressing it against her nose.

“That’s nice. Now go play. I have games to compete in.”

Vara turned around abruptly, only to bump directly into Nikolai. He held her by the shoulders to steady her. A warmth swept through her from the contact, and she felt her heart jump to have him so near.

“Nikolai, you are just the person I want to see. I need you to look into your crystal and tell me which games to compete in.”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” He looked beyond her shoulder. When she turned around, she realized Agatha was still there.

“I told you to go play,” she said.

“She’s a child. A princess, to be exact, and in a strange land,” Nikolai reminded her. “You can’t just tell her to go off on her own. You don’t know what might happen.”

“What?” Panic ripped through her. Did he really think she was going to keep a child at her side everywhere she went? “I am not her mother. And must I remind you that I am here to compete, not to be a nursemaid?”

“And must I remind you, we have an agreement? You watch over the child, and I stay and advise you.”

“But that’s not what I meant.”

“Well, did you want me to leave?”

There was a moment of silence, and then she shook her head.

“No. I need you. I need your scrying abilities. You can’t leave.”

“Then I’d suggest you attend to the child as we agreed upon.”

Vara looked over to Agatha, not having the slightest idea what to do with her. Didn’t Nikolai realize she hadn’t time for this right now?

“I have no idea how to attend to her.”

“Well, why don’t you talk to her?”

“What?”

“Ask her what she wants to do.”

“Cannot this wait until after the games?”

“No, Vara. You need to do this first.”

“All right. I will. And then I must talk with you about the competitions.” She swung around, feeling frustration gathering within her. Why had she ever agreed to this in the first place? “What do you want to do, Agatha? Tell me, so I can get to the competition.”

“I want to stay with you.”

It wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

“You can’t. I don’t want to be distracted during the challenges.”

“I want to watch you compete. My father always used to let me watch him.”

She let out an exasperated breath. She felt like she wanted to scream. When she looked back at Nikolai, he was standing with his arms crossed over his chest, a half grin upon his face.

“I don’t know what to do.”

“She told you what she wants,” Nikolai pointed out. “Bring her with you to the competitions.”

Wanting this all to be over, Vara saw no alternative rather than to agree.

“Fine. Agatha, you can come with me. But just don’t get in the way.” She turned back to Nikolai and talked as they walked. “Now, tell me which games to enter.”

“Sign up for whatever you wish,” he told her. “You do not need me to help you make your choice.”

This wasn’t how he was supposed to answer. After all, she was doing for the child, he needed to tell her what she wanted to know.

“I am carrying out my end of the agreement, now I demand you carry out yours. I only want to compete in the games I will win. So look into your crystal sphere and tell me which those are.”

He looked at her oddly.

“Did you just ask or order me to do something?”

She felt her anger boiling within her and the Furies had nothing to do with it this time. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself and tried again.

“Can you please use your sphere to tell me which games I’ll win?”

“That would be cheating, my lady. Surely, you wouldn’t want to know the results before you start? That’s not competition. Competition means you try your best and leave the rest to fate.”

The horns sounded, signifying the start of the first game was close at hand. The announcer made his final call for competitors to sign up.

“They’re ready to start the archery,” Vara pointed out to Nikolai. “Use your magic quickly. Tell me if I’ll win. Please?”

She looked up to him with pleading eyes. Nikolai felt her persuasive powers of
The Pandora
Curse
pulling him in, and he was unable to resist her wish. He picked up his crystal and rubbed it. He waited, and before his eyes he saw the vision of the outcome of the archery competition. Vara was the winner, smiling and cheering and holding up the golden arrow - the prize for this game.

“What do you see?” she asked. She looked over to the archery yard and then back to Nikolai. “Tell me quickly, as the game is about to start.”

Zetes walked up with Vara’s bow and arrows in hand. “My queen, are you competing in the archery event?”

“I don’t know yet,” she snapped and looked back to Nikolai. “Did you see me win? Tell me, fast. Tell me if I am the one who will claim fame and fortune from the archery competition.”

“Your greed overtakes you, Vara. I really shouldn’t tell you what you want to know.”

“But you will, won’t you? After all, I am taking care of the child.” She reached down and grabbed the child’s hand in hers, trying to prove her point. Nikolai knew she only did it to get what she wanted out of him. But he also realized they had made an agreement, and he had to carry out his part of the deal as well.

“Yes,” he answered. “I saw in my gazing crystal that you will win.”

“Good!” She released Agatha’s hand and motioned for Zetes to follow as she headed toward the archery field confidently. “Come, Zetes. I am going to win the golden arrow and the title of best archer in all Greece.”

Nikolai cleared his throat and she turned around.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” he asked, nodding toward Agatha who was still standing there sniffing her flower.

She growled under her breath and hurried back for the girl. Grabbing her hand, she hurried across the courtyard with little Agatha in tow.

Nikolai chuckled to himself. If Vara didn’t kill him, she may just learn something by taking care of Agatha and thinking of someone besides herself.