“So you and your lovely group of friends after Artemisia, then?” Isadora squatted down and set her hand on the wound on my thigh.

“Uh…” I fidgeted as I stood at the temple’s center. “Yea.”

The inside of the building was completely bare, save the large stone altar at the far end. The ceiling was decorated with a depiction of Ra on his boat battling back the Lord of Chaos, Apophis. The giant snake, coiled round the canoe, threatened the sun god with fangs bared. Ra was positioned defensively with his scepter and ankh in either hand. 

“Relax.” She looked up at me and smiled. “This may tickle a little bit.”

Her hand emanated a faint hum as it glowed light-yellow. Her soft skin turned warm, and a pleasant, almost homey feeling coursed through my body.

“Shame about the tunic.” She continued. “While I can heal your body, your clothes, I’m afraid, are outside my skill set.”

As she removed her hand from my thigh, the warmth vanished. My breathing shuddered as it happened, and when I looked down, the cut was gone.

“The poison has been fully removed from your body as well.” She stood up. “Now tell me; why is it you’re after Artemisia?”

“Is Illias going to be ok?” I stammered. “He has to be ok.”

“He will be.” She nodded. “My priestesses are healing him outside as we speak. They also retrieved both your runaway horses, the dagger Damien threw, and your spears, which we gave to your human friend to temporarily hold on to. Everything is going to be alright.”

“Th-thank you.”

“Do not thank me.” She set her hand on my arm. “Answer me.”

“R-right.” I stammered again. “Strategos Themistocles sent me on this mission to capture Artemisia.”

“Themistocles…” She removed her hand and rubbed her chin.

“He’s the Athenian‒”

“I know who he is.” She turned around and began walking towards the altar at the back of the temple. “I’m just wondering what he could possibly want with her.”

“Well.” I stood in place, unsure if I should follow her. “He said that she’s been manipulating king Xerxes and playing her own game to see Greece enslaved or destroyed.”

“Is she now?” She reached the altar and leaned forward, setting her hands on the stone. “That is an interesting claim.”

“You don’t believe him?”

“Not entirely.” She shook her head as it hung down. “I don’t know the Halicarnassian queen personally, but I do know Themistocles as such. He does care about the future of Greece, but he is also a selfish individual. There must be another reason he sent you and his dwarven pet on this quest.”

“If there is, he didn’t tell me.” I frowned. “In fact, he didn’t tell me much at all.”

“That’s a politician for you.” Her voice soured. “They tell you what they want to tell you and force you to figure out everything else on your own, including their lies.”

The chatter of Illias, Damien and the other priestesses echoed faintly outside. I glanced to my right, past the temples’ columns, to see all of them gathered round our camel and two horses. The priestesses wore the same attire as Isadora, minus the golden headband. There were five of them total: three humans and two elves.

“Theophilus.” She beckoned me over to her with a wave. “I can tell you of her last known whereabouts, but I require a favor from you in return.”

“Sure.” I strolled up to her and stood on the other side of the altar. “You saved my life. I should be repaying you for that first, before I even ask for your help.”

“Saving lives is what we do, along with reducing people to ash on the rare occasion.” She lifted her head to look at me. “But should you be successful in detaining Artemisia, I would ask that you bring her to me before bringing her to the Athenian.”

“Um…” I clicked my tongue. “You’re asking me to betray Themistocles.”

“I didn’t ask you to not bring her to him.” She shook her finger in front of my face. “I simply asked you to bring her to me first.”

“That’s not really‒”

“Think of it more as a confirmation than a betrayal, yes?” Her gaze became more focused at me. 

“Why should I trust you?” I blurted the statement out before I could catch myself.

“I think saving the lives of you and your friend is deserving of at least a modicum of trust.” She squinted at me. “Wouldn’t you say?”

“I suppose.” I sighed. “Will you be here still?”

“Yes…” Her voice trailed off as she leaned in closer to me. “Artemisia was last seen in the Valley of Kings, southwest of here on the mainland.”

“Are you okay?” I took a step back.

“Your eyes…” She grabbed my chin and pulled me a little closer to her. “The deep brown with a hint of dark red. They look familiar.” 

I prevented myself from returning her stare as my eyes darted from left to right.

“They look like…” She gasped daintily.

I recoiled and turned away.

“You’ve got some Persian blood in you, don’t you?”

“What?” I cleared my throat.” N-no…”

“And not just any Persian…” She slapped both her hands on the altar. “You’re the son of‒”

“Stop!” I turned back around, panting. “Please. You can’t tell them.”

“Oh, the irony.” She laughed through her nose. “Worry not. My lips are sealed, only so long as you don’t tell the dwarf of our little arrangement.”

“Fine.” I mumbled. “Illias can’t‒”

“High priestess!” One of the human priestesses rushed into the temple, her neck-length brunette hair bobbing behind her. “Sorry for the intrusion.”

“What is it, Atemu?” Isadora addressed her with a slow turn of her head.

“A group of four Egyptian soldiers has been spotted nearby by our scouts.” She pointed in the direction of the dunes from which we just came. “We think they are medjay, and they’re being led by a Persian Immortal.”

“I see…”

“What should we do?” Atemu glanced at me, half smiled, then returned her attention to Isadora.

“Find somewhere to hide our three guests.” The high priestess nodded at her. “And go about our usual business as if they were never here.”