Thalassa

Chapter 9

Sorry for the short chapter, but I thought it would be good to include some proper proper dialogue. Happy reading :)

"Tell the boy to keep rowing eastwards. You are close to the edge." The voice whispered, and the reassuring tone calmed Thea.

"I can't believe I'm doing this! So you were just sleeping and you heard a voice and you're trusting the voice? Has being away so long caused you to go mad?" Mikalis said, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Why would I put myself at risk of being taken back? Believe me, Mikalis, we have to get to my father. I don't know what will happen from there on, I just know that the sooner we get there, the better."

"Alright." Mikalis said something else but it was mumbled.

"Sorry?" Thea said.

"Did you run away because you we're going to have to marry me?"

"Mikalis, I wouldn't have married anyone." Thea turned away again.

"Yes, but did the fact that it was me that you were betrothed to have anything to do with you leaving? At all?" Thea laughed.

"Don't think you're that special. I'm not a wife, and I will never be"

"Never?" An unmarried young woman from a wealthy family was unheard of. It was outrageous. But then again, he wasn't sure if he was prepared to drag Thea back to Athens, if her life there had caused her to be so in despair that she chose to run away. So maybe she wouldn't see her family again and marrying just wouldn't matter. He wasn't quite sure he could think straight with all these different unanswered questions and situations.

"Can we discuss something different please? I am sick of marriage. Now, tell me how you came to be a leader of men" Although Thea was facing the sea, he could hear her smile. It was the first time he had seen her smile since the night of the of the feast, before the big announcement. She had changed a lot. Her eyes were still the same deep blue as they were, but that was it. Her dark hair had grown to her waist, her face held the beauty of statues in a temple, and she had grown into her gangly arms and legs. Thea could only be described as radiant, and she fascinated Mikalis. No girl in Athens could be so stunning. And Thea was completely unaware, which made her all the more intriguing. A simple, natural beauty.

"I became a commander on a trireme when I was seventeen. Apparently I was the most logical" He said finally.

"There are some pompous fools living in Athens. It's good to hear that they are not judging just by strength" Thea turned to him, grinning.

"Why thank you." Mikalis said, returning the grin.

"You're very welcome" Thea turned away again, and her hair blew in the wind.

"Which direction now?" Mikalis asked. Thea looked around. Myathos was nowhere to be seen, so they must have gone through the portal without realising. The voice flittered across the wind like a butterfly and into Thea's ears.