Chapter 10

The archon's court moved swiftly and handed down a decisive verdict.

My father was stripped of his citizenship and banished from the city-state, never to return. This was atimia, a punishment second only to death. From then on, he would not even have the right to speak publicly in the agora.

As his accomplice, Myra was exiled to a harsh, freezing colony on the frontier.

Orion, the baby who had been switched with me, was sent to a foundling home at the Temple of Artemis. Its priests took in children with nowhere else to go.

With the divorce declaration officially recorded, my mother returned to my grandfather's estate in triumph, taking me and her entire dowry with her.

That day, the whole city turned out to watch.

A long line of mule carts carried away gold and silver vessels, bronze statues, and painted vases made by master craftsmen. My father's house was stripped bare. My mother even ordered his wax writing tablet, inlaid with topaz, smashed on the spot.

"He won't keep anything that wasn't his to begin with," she said coldly, peeling a grape in her spacious carriage.

I lay in her arms and rolled over, perfectly content.

Good job, Mom. Don't let him keep a thing.

My mother chuckled softly and popped a peeled grape into her mouth.

"You could talk all day and never get tired, couldn't you?"

She was completely used to our soul-link now and even joked with me from time to time. These conversations were our little secret, a bond only we shared.

The carriage rolled through the gates of my grandfather's estate.

It had barely stopped when a booming voice rang out. "My darling daughter!"

My mother lifted the curtain. The courtyard was packed with people.

My grandfather, Nestor Theron, was the city's archon. His hair was gray, but he was still full of energy. He rushed ahead of everyone else to greet us.

My three uncles followed him, all impressive men. A moment later, they were crowding around me as I lay in my mother's arms.

"Thea, come on. Let me see my granddaughter."

My grandfather was so excited his beard shook.

My mother carefully held me out to him. His large, rough hands froze in midair. Afraid of hurting me, he finally brushed my cheek lightly with the pad of one finger.

"Oh, those eyes, that little nose. She looks just like Thea did as a baby!" He couldn't stop smiling. "Bring me the fragment of a Titan's scepter from my study—the one that's been in our family for three generations. My granddaughter can play with it."

Everyone gasped.

A fragment of a Titan's scepter. As a toy?

Grandpa's the best! If anyone dares mess with me, I'll take them out with one swing!

In my head, I gave him a round of applause.

Not to be outdone, my three uncles gathered close.

My eldest uncle, Damon, commanded the city's cavalry.

"Thea, these are the deeds to the three largest shops on the east side of the city. Buy my niece some honey cakes."

My second uncle, Zeno Theron, was the city treasurer.

"And here's the deed to 16,500 acres of rich farmland in Boeotia. I'll pay for all the scented oils my niece could ever want."

My youngest uncle, Laurence Theron, was a general just home from a campaign in Thessaly.

"I brought this fine foal back from Thessaly. When she's old enough, I'll teach her to ride."

My uncles kept piling on the gifts: deeds to shops and farmland, even a foal. I was dazzled by it all.

Is this the life I was meant to have? I'm so happy.

Mom, take them. We're rich!

My hands flailed wildly inside my swaddling clothes, and I got so excited I started drooling.

My mother could only shake her head at my excitement.

"You three, don't spoil her."

"So what if we do?" My grandfather glared. "A child of this family should have the run of the city!"

Life at my grandfather's estate was better than living on Mount Olympus.

Every morning, I woke to the sight of clear amber from the north beside my bed. I drank goat's milk brought especially for me from an Arcadian farm and wore fine silk that had taken six months to weave on Amorgos.

Even my chamber pot was solid gold, studded with emeralds.

I'm completely hooked on this outrageous life of luxury!

I lay on northern mink fur in my cradle, marveling at it all.

Soon after I came home, Damon won the king archon's favor during an audience. Zeno opened trade routes in the western Mediterranean and was making a fortune. Laurence's victory had made him the city's hero. Every unmarried girl admired his courage. He couldn't go out without coming home with his arms full of flowers.

My grandfather often rubbed his stubbly chin against my cheek. "Since this little treasure arrived, everything has gone right for us!"

My mother sat nearby, checking that month's accounts.

She'd made a name for herself in business. After the divorce, she'd taken over my grandfather's shops and other properties. In just a few months, she'd turned failing shops into profitable ones and become the city's leading businesswoman.

She also funded more than ten new foundling homes beside the Temple of Artemis, specifically to take in abandoned baby girls.

Mom, every woman in the city looks up to you now.

I was buttering her up in my head.

"Enough of your sweet talk."

My mother set down the ledger, came over, and picked me up. She looked down at me, her gaze tender but determined.

"From now on, sweetheart, you don't have to live to please anyone else. Just be yourself.

"No matter what happens, your grandfather and I will protect you."

I reached out and curled my chubby hand around one of her fingers.

I know.

It took six tries, but I didn't just survive. I'm thriving!

A spring breeze stirred the courtyard, sending pomegranate blossoms fluttering down.

I closed my eyes and fell fast asleep in my mother's warm arms.

And this lovely, carefree life was only just beginning.