Free Web NovelChapter 79: Chapter 79
As their ships reached the shores of Erindros, Adonis cracked into a slight smile. It felt good to be back among familiar faces.
He stood near the bow of the ship watching as the people began to gather around the harbour, shouting and screaming.
"We’re finally back, your majesty," Augustus said when he came to stand beside him.
Adonis crossed his hand behind his back and averted his gaze.
"I haven’t come to fight with you today, your majesty, so please rest assured." frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
"Enough, Augustus," he said with quiet contempt, and Augustus bowed and left without resisting. He waved at the crowd that had come to welcome them, blown away by their cheers and hoots.
His smile grew larger when they finally docked the ships, and they stepped onto the piers. The people ran wild with excitement, touching and dragging them all every which way.
They eventually maneuvered their way through the crowd at the harbour and headed towards the palace. His father, a few members of the council, and some soldiers waited by the gate.
His body tensed immediately as he walked up to the small crowd waiting for him. His eyes darted around the faces in front of him, and his jaw tensed. Octavia was back, and she stood beside their father, smiling smugly. She radiated with a pride that informed him that she had done more than expected and had pleased their father greatly. Penelope looked much worse than he’d remembered.
"Adonis," his father said with his arms outstretched to embrace him. "You’re finally back." He held him tight for a while, pulled away, and kissed him on both cheeks. "It is good to finally have all my children back with me."
Adonis’s heart skipped a beat, and he tried not to let his emotions heighten. "It was a long journey indeed."
"You must tell us all about it," his father said with a smile.
Adonis nodded, turned to the council and bowed, then he turned to the soldiers and greeted them with a salute.
"Let us head in, son."
Astrid and Selene looked around for their sisters until Astrid finally spotted them in the crowd.
"Hera!" She called as she pushed through the crowd, "Iris!" She called again, and she looked in their direction. Hera’s face lit up with joy as she began to rock herself as she saw her.
"Hera!" Astrid cried and crashed into her with a hug, "I’ve missed you, my love." She pulled away from her, "I thought I’d never see your beautiful face again."
Hera’s eyes glistened with tears as she looked at her sister. "You scoundrel," she said, and her voice hitched, "you left without saying goodbye. You left me here, all alone." She hit Astrid lightly and tried to shake herself out of her grasp.
Astrid pulled her back in for a hug and held her tightly. "I’m sorry, Hera," she whispered, "I’m so sorry. I’m here now. I’m going to take you home." She felt Hera stiffen in her arms and pull away. She looked at her with a puzzled expression, but Hera gave a tight smile and shook her head.
Beside them, Iris and Selene hugged and cackled.
"You’re finally back," Iris said, her lips spread in a wide smile. "I thought you’d be dead by now."
Selene chuckled, "I almost was," she said. "Multiple times, in fact. You won’t believe..."
"You know," Astrid chimed, "I think you love the fact that you came face to face with death. You literally light up when you tell these stories." She pressed her lips together to hold her laughter.
"I mean, she won’t be such a bore now," Iris said and chuckled.
The crowd had mostly dispersed, and Adonis, with the rest of the nobles, had gone into the palace.
"We should head in?" Hera said, "You shouldn’t stand out here for too long."
Selene groaned, "You’re right," she said. "I need a warm bath. Every part of my body feels stiff."
Iris took her arm in hers and began to walk into the palace. "I can imagine all the days you spent on that ship." She sniffed her and wrinkled her nose. "You smell awful, too."
Astrid and Hera chuckled behind them.
"I saw father and mother, " Astrid said quietly, "they miss you. They want us to come back home."
Hera’s face crumpled in a sad frown, and she gazed downward, "I miss them too," she said, barely audible.
"Hera, is everything alright?" Astrid asked. "You don’t seem so well."
"I am." Hera looked up at her and smiled affectedly. "I’m just a little sad about everything." Her chest tightened. She clenched her hand beside her.
Astrid smiled sadly. "I know," she said. "I know you’d planned for so much and nothing worked out, but I’m here now. I’ll make everything right again. I promise you."
Hera took a deep breath and tried to relax. "I know, I’m sorry. I just saw you and..."
"You don’t need to apologize. I’m here now, and that is all that matters. Once everything is sorted out, we will leave this wretched place and never come back."
Hera faked a smile once more and held her hand. "I know Astrid," she said, "but first, you have to tell me all about your travels. I’m sure Selene isn’t the only one with stories.
"No, she isn’t," she said. Then she lowered her voice and leaned towards her ear. "Mine are much better, but don’t tell her I said that, or she’ll have my head."
Hera laughed and shook her head.
They entered the palace and were confronted by the servants running around haywire.
"They always do that," Iris said flatly, " let’s go upstairs. "
They headed towards the stairs and were stopped in their tracks by Penelope and Octavia.
Astrid’s face darkened as she looked at them.
"I see you’re back," Octavia drawled and smiled. I was hoping to finally see the mystery woman who aided my brother in battle."
"Your highness," Astrid said with a nod. "It was nothing."
"Call me Octavia. she smiled, but it never reached her eyes. They were as cold as ice.
Iris snuck a look at Penelope. They hadn’t spoken for a while after the incident at the hall. She’d ignored her whenever she came close.
She looked down and saw Penelope clench her fist, and she knew she felt her gaze . Then look at me, she thought, tell me what’s wrong.
