“Ektor?” Ariston slid from the horse to clasp his forearm.
Ektor’s eyes grew round, though he took his arm eagerly. “Ariston,” he answered. “It’s good to know some stories are true. I’m glad you’re well and returned to Athens. You deserve a hero’s welcome.”
“I did what any man would do, in my place. We landed this morning, bringing Athens’ people home from Aegina.”
Ektor smiled. “It will be good to see familiar faces.”
“You have things well in order here.”
“Indeed.” Ektor paused, his face growing taut. “I… I have something of yours, I think?” He led Ariston through the rubble, to the remnants of the temple robes room. Inside all was chaos as well. The ceremonial candles were broken, a bronze incense bowl lay dented on the floor, and several wooden trays were singed black.
“What is it?” Ariston peered into the gloom, but saw nothing.
A coo sounded, deep from within.
“Thea?” he breathed.
A questioning squawk reached him.
“She will not let anyone near her,” Ektor explained. “But she is caught in a cage.”
Ariston ventured into the robes room, searching for his lady’s pet with narrowed eyes. He found her, the remnants of her cage twined about her talons. She was too delicate an owl to fly with such weight attached to her.
“Ektor, fetch me some meat,” Ariston called out before speaking to the owl. “Brave Thea, let me help you.”
The owl had wasted severely, though she cooed sweetly at his tone. His hands were quick, freeing her and lifting her against him. She cackled and cooed, leaning against him with no restraint.
“You’re well now, little one.”
She stared up at him, listening attentively.
“Here you are, Ariston.” Ektor handed Ariston a chicken wing, pulling his hand back when Thea lunged at him.
“That’s no way to thank Ektor, Thea.” But he laughed, holding the bone as the owl devoured the meat. “Has she been here the whole time?”
Ektor shrugged. “I know not. From the sight of her, it’s likely.”
Thea continued to eat, undisturbed by the men.
“What’s she holding?” Ektor asked, pointing towards Thea’s talon.
Thea lunged again, slicing Ektor’s finger with the tip of her beak.
“By the Gods, you are a wicked creature,” Ektor swore, shaking his hand as a thin line of blood welled.
Ariston held the owl up, regarding her with steady eyes. “She is the truest friend and ally.”
Thea ruffled her chest feathers and shook her wings, with none of her normal sturdiness. Ariston stifled the urge to steady her. Thea was a hunter. She would not appreciate being coddled. She was weak from being so long without food, water or light, but she was strong and would recover… Like her mistress.
His heart tightened.
“She likes you well enough.” Ektor wrapped his finger as he spoke. “You see what treasure she’s protecting so vigorously.”
“What have you there, Thea?” Ariston asked softly, his hand moving closer to the owl’s right talon. It was small, he could not see it clearly between the bird’s talons. A leather cord looped about one of Thea’s legs, its ends dangling. His fingers stroked her foot and Thea opened her claw, giving it to Ariston without hesitation.
The small carved owl looked up at him from his palm. He remembered the smile on her face as she’d lifted her hair for him to tie the cord.
Pain found him, cutting more deeply than the sword that sent him to Hades. His hand fisted about it as he sucked in a sharp breath. The cord had been broken. The knot was still tight, but the leather had been stretched or yanked firmly to remove it.