"Because that's how I feel about you, little brother. The love you have for her is the same as what I feel whenever I think of you. If you ever needed me, there's no hardship I wouldn't endure to be by your side as quickly as I could."
He swallowed as a haunted look came into his swirling silver eyes. "You love me?"
"With every part of my heart. I would do anything to keep you safe."
For the first time since he'd come here I felt as if I'd finally reached him. And then the most miraculous thing of all happened.
Acheron took my hand. "Then I love you, Ryssa."
Tears clouded my eyes as emotions choked me. "I love you too, akribos. And I don't want you ever to doubt that."
"I won't." He squeezed my hand. "Thank you for coming to get me."
No words had ever meant more to me nor touched me so deeply. My throat was so tight that I couldn't even speak as he let go of my hand to rise with Maia in his arms so that he could take her to her mother. I watched him walk away and hoped with every part of my soul that he would always feel that way toward me. I could stand anything except my brother's hatred.
March 19, 9531 BC
Today I decided to teach Acheron how to read from some of the scrolls I kept in my room. We'd barely begun when I noticed something very different about him.
The balls in his tongue were gone.
"You took them out," I breathed, unable to believe what I was seeing.
His expression was a cross between sheepishness and pride. "I made myself trust you. You say that I'm safe here and that no one is going to take me away again. I want to believe that. So I took them out and am going to trust in the gods that they'll keep me with you."
I cupped his face in my hands, delighted even more that he didn't stiffen, and pulled him into my arms so that I could hug him close. "You're safe here, little brother. I swear it."
For the first time, he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me back.
Never had anything touched me more.
I heard someone clearing their throat. Pulling back, I found Petra in the doorway with wine and cheese. "I thought the two of you would like a snack."
I nodded before I pulled away. "That would be wonderful. Thank you."
She inclined her head to me before she placed the tray on a small side table.
Acheron watched until after she'd left us alone before he spoke. "Do you ever think about getting married, Ryssa?"
I hesitated before I poured our cups. "I do sometimes and I wonder why Father hasn't procured me a husband. Most princesses are married long before they reach my age. But Father says he can't find anyone he deems worthy." I smiled. "Truthfully, I'm not in any great hurry. I've seen too many of my friends married to ogres, so if Father wishes to take more time to find me a gentle husband, I can certainly wait. Why do you ask?"
"I was thinking of Petra and her husband. Have you ever noticed the way they laugh whenever they're together? And when they're apart, there's a sadness to them. It's as if they can't bear to be parted even for a few minutes."
I nodded. "They share a great love of one another. It's a pity not all married couples are like that."
"Are our parents like that?"
I glanced away as my memories brought images of the way my parents had been before Styxx and Acheron's births. In those days, they'd loved each other passionately. Seldom had they parted and my father had doted on my mother with a love that appeared unending.
Then their sons had been born. Since that fateful day, my father couldn't stand to be near my mother. He blamed her for Acheron.
"You whored yourself to a god. Don't deny it. There's no other way he could have come from your womb."
The more my mother protested her innocence, the more my father seemed to hate her. Finally she claimed that Zeus had tricked her and that she'd had no idea of his presence in her bed.
Instead of drawing my father closer, her confession had alienated him even more and now he avoided all contact with her.
"No, Acheron," I said quietly before taking a cup to him. "They seldom even see one another unless it's for a state function. Father keeps company with Styxx and his senators while Mother spends a great deal of time lost in her cups." And I hated that. At one time my mother had been wonderful. Now she was a bitter drunkard.
He looked stricken as if he understood why. "Do you think that a woman could ever love me?"
"Of course. Why would you doubt it?"
He swallowed before he answered in a tone so low I barely heard it. "How could anyone ever love me? Idikos says that I only bring shame to all decent people. I'm a fatherless bastard and a worthless whore. Surely no decent woman would ever have something like me."
"That is absolutely not true," I said vehemently. "You are worth this entire world and I assure you that you will find a woman out there, besides me, who sees just how wonderful you really are."
He swallowed hard. "If I'm ever so fortunate, I swear she'll never doubt my affection for her."
"You will be that fortunate."
He smiled at me, but it was hollow and the doubt in his eyes was enough to bring tears to mine.