His lip twitched. There must be considerable objections to this lover, then, beyond his spinelessness. Why else would she protect him so? “Who were you speaking with?”
A baying howl filled the air, startling her. He bit back yet another urge to smile and turned, whistling once. His hounds raced toward them, their silken bodies undulating through the waving grasses. In an instant, they were at his side.
Hades watched her stoop to greet his hounds, astounded. She reached out her hand, welcoming the large ani
mals with a guileless smile. The youngest stepped forward to sniff her hand. “Hello,” she whispered, rubbing the hound with dainty hands and graceful fingers.
He swallowed, tearing his gaze from her hands. “Will you answer my question?”
She glanced up at him, still smiling over the dog. “I’m not alone.”
“As you’ve said.” He was torn. Should he laugh or shake her? Was she testing him? He took a deep breath before asking, “Who were you speaking to?”
He watched, fascinated by the color that bloomed in her cheeks. She stared at the hound, then the tree. “A… a friend.”
He sighed, not bothering to hide his mounting frustration. One word from her, a straight-forward answer, and he could be about his duty. If she would not tell him, he would find them. He moved, the hounds following. But he found no one as he circled the massive tree trunk, though his eyes searched every shadow and shrub.
“Where is this companion?”
“Not so much a companion as…” She paused, blushing again.
A lover. His eyes swept over her. Lucky fellow. He all but snarled, “As?”
She sighed, looking utterly defeated. “The… the tree.”
He could not have been more surprised. “The tree?”
“Yes.” She met his eyes, nodding. “This one, this glorious pine, is very old, you know.”
This was the most peculiar conversation he’d ever had. His carefully blank expression gave way as true bewilderment settled upon him. Even as his gaze bore into her clear, green eyes he wondered what she’d say next. “Is it?” he asked softly.
“It is.” She nodded, warming to her subject. “Older than most of the Greece we know, shading the Titans…”
“The Titans?” he interrupted, unable to stop himself.
“Even Titans need shade on a day such as today.” Her smile grew. “Before the Gods overthrew them, they wandered these plains. The mountains, there.” She pointed, her eyes roaming the horizon as she continued, “They were taller then, jagged and rough, as was the world. Man had yet to settle or thrive, the beasts were new and skittish. So the Titans would come here, to its green grass and young trees, and dream of what was to come. It was a more peaceful time. Or so I’ve been told.”
He watched her closely, enthralled by the sincerity in her voice. She believed what she said. To hear her, to see the wistful look upon her delicate features, he might believe her too. “Peaceful?”
She nodded. “It was a very long time ago, before the Titans grew greedy, before war with the Gods, before man sought power… A long, long time ago.”
He glanced at the tree. That she spoke of a tree, not a lover, pleased him. “Are you a nymph?”
“No.” She shook her head. “My attendants are. Nymphs, that is.”
He regarded the tree in silence. He’d thought not. She was too gentle, too guileless a creature to be a nymph.
“It’s a lovely tree.” She placed her hand on the trunk, stroking its bark with a satisfied smile. His lungs tightened. “The loveliest pine in all of Larissa, perhaps all of Greece. It will shade travelers, bring joy and comfort, for years to come,” she added.
He marveled at the smile upon her face. He’d never seen such adoration. And yet she clearly held deep affection… for this tree? “Who are you, lady?”
A shout went up, startling her again.
He turned as the hounds leapt to attention at his side. The hair between their muscled shoulders rose on end. Their ears flattened, and teeth, dangerously pointed daggers, flashed as the three growled as one. They were no longer alone on the meadow.
The clash of metal reverberated, then another cry.
He stepped in front of the girl as a hoplite soldier ran from the trees and into the field. His gait was awkward, as if one leg was too heavy to move with ease. Hades sucked in his breath when he saw why. His leg was cut, near hanging from the knee joint.