Thief of Olympus (Greek Myth Series Book 3) Read Free Page B

Daedalus? Be on with it already.” A knot twisted in Zarek’s stomach. He feared the words of his old friend before he even heard them.
    The man wiped his sweaty brow on his sleeve, his mouth firm and his eyes mere slits. “They are murderers, my lord. They give human sacrifices of the male babies to their goddess.”
    “Nay!” spat Zarek. “They will not do this to my son.”
    “They can and they will, my lord. Unless you do something to stop them.”
    Zarek grabbed the man by the front of his tunic, almost lifting him from the ground.
    “You’d best not be jesting with me. I don’t take kindly to those who deceive me.”
    “I tell the truth, my king,” he sputtered. “Your son will be dead by the morrow. You will lose your son, just as I have lost mine. Now we will both know the meaning of death to one of our own blood.”
    Zarek released the man and clenched his fists, fury and determination coursing through him. The ring on his finger bit into his flesh, an omen of a confrontation destined to happen. He held it up for Daedalus to see.
    “Do you see this ring?”
    Daedalus nodded.
    “I stole this from the Amazon princess the night I left her planted with my seed.”
    “I do not understand,” said the man, squinting one eye into the sun. “What does this have to do with your son?”
    “I take what I want,” he stated with conviction. “I have always done that, and I will do it again.”
    “Are you planning on taking the baby away from the Amazons?” Daedalus asked in disbelief. “No one has ever been able to defeat them.”
    “I am not planning on defeating them, Daedalus, just taking what rightfully belongs to me. I will steal my son just the way I stole this ring right from under the princess’s nose.”
    “You are addlepated!” gasped Daedalus. “The odds are against you. There are nearly one hundred in their tribe, and one of you. The danger is enormous. You must take an army to protect you, and even so, you are bound to lose. Don’t forget, at any moment they can call Artemis to their side. The Amazons are known to be ruthless. They are excellent warriors. I do not advise you to go up against them.”
    “Your words hold truth. An army would alarm them of my arrival and they would kill my son before I had the chance to save him.” Zarek paced back and forth, his hand on his chin in thought. “I would not risk the lives of my men, nor that of my son. The Amazons have never been defeated, and I do not intend to start trying.”
    “I agree. You must stay.”
    “I will go. I will save my son’s life.”
    “I understand your desire to save your son, King Zarek, and I know I would do the same if I were in your sandals. But you mustn’t try to challenge the Amazons alone.”
    “I would not be alone,” Zarek reassured him with a smile and a light slap to Daedalus’s back. “You will be with me.”
    Daedalus’s eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped. “But . . .”
    “Did not you say you’d do the same if you were in my position?”
    “I did, but . . .”
    “And did I not once save your own life from the wicked King Minos?”
    “Aye.” The man bobbed his head in silent surrender. “And since I owe my life to you, I will do anything to repay you.”
    “Then listen closely.” Zarek bent to talk into the man’s ear without others hearing. “I have a plan.”

Three
     
     
    Lysandra rocked her son in her arms, cradling him to her chest. The gods had not been kind to her in giving her a male child, but still she felt the thrill of being a mother. It had been just hours ago she’d birthed her baby, and already she was expected to portray the title of warrior that she’d been given the night of her coming-of-age. Her physical pain forgotten momentarily, her mental anguish devoured her common sense.
    She knew she couldn’t keep the child, but still she refused to lose him. He was a male and would be destroyed. She was expected to hand her baby over to the queen who would sacrifice