Note: Many spoilers ahead for Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey. If you haven’t played far into the game, it’s probably a good idea to skip this one. Also, a lot of what I refer to and Kassandra’s state of mind are just how I played the game and the direction I wound up taking. So it’s possible some things don’t quite match up with what you remember. Just a heads up.

It wasn’t exactly in the plan to stop at Lesbos but it seemed nothing Kassandra did was part of any ‘plan.’ The Adrestia’s Commander dragged her crew of deserters from the Followers of Artemis all over the Greek Isles, often on a whim, but most often on the hunt for the Cult of Kosmos.

The muscular Spartan warrior had even left the ship’s captain, Barnabas, behind on Mykonos to spend some quality ‘alone’ time with his lady love, Iola. She didn’t need to know anything else about what those crazy, one-eyed lovers would get up to and Barnabas reassured her that she should do whatever she needed to do without him for the time being.

“The Adrestia is in good hands, Kassandra. I trust you with her,” he had said to her.

Kassandra wasn’t so sure he should trust her not to be... overzealous in her hunt. Ever since everything that had happened in Athens... what had happened to Phoibe... and her repeated heartbreaks with Kyra, then Daphnae... then being fooled by the pretty face of that Kosmos witch Diona... not to mention just about everything else in her life and it left Kassandra feeling vengeful. The sheer number of warriors dead by her hand was countless and staggering. She had tried to be merciful... and the world hurt her for it. So it was that she and, by extension, her crew adopted the motto ‘Fuck them all.’

For a long time, Kassandra had even chosen to dress as an agent of Death, with a frightening hood and veil covering her face and dark robes and armour to reflect the deepening anger in her soul. The look was meant to strike fear into her enemies as she sent them down the river Styx. But, on this day, she wore something different.

It reminded her of happier times. She used to wear it all the time back then when Phoibe... well, she didn’t like to think about that. Kassandra had earned it from killing the Heroes of the Cult of Kosmos, the people who fancied themselves great warriors. Of course, Kassandra had proven herself to be better.

The outfit contained no sleeves, or even shoulders for that matter, showing off Kassandra’s broad, strong shoulders and impressive arms. She did wear gold coloured wrists gauntlets with ornate carvings that covered her arms from the wrists to just below the elbows. This matched the golden inlaid, brown cuirass she wore that covered her chest and seemed to actively frame it. The cuirass was all in one piece, running down to a matching battle skirt made up of leather straps and one wider piece that displayed a curved symbol, almost like the Greek letter Omega.

The outfit was completed with golden greaves that covered her lower legs from the knees to the ankles. She wore leather sandals below that. The short, wool skirt underneath the leather straps helped show off her strong, shapely legs and the greaves only accentuated that. Topping that off, she wore a thin head piece around her forehead, inlaid with gold, that displayed a symbol resembling the Greek letter ‘Alpha.’

Today, perhaps, Kassandra was interested in happier times. The Adrestia proudly displayed the head of the Minotaur at its front, flying a black sail with a golden bull, and its female crew sang jovial songs as she sailed into port at Lesbos.

Kassandra had been unaware, however, that a band of pirates had been watching her ship from afar for quite some time. They had seen The Adrestia come and go, sinking ships at an impressive rate, and the captain didn’t want to go head to head with such a ship. Besides, it wasn’t the ship she was after.

Captain Lysandra was interested in a few members of its crew. The commander, in particular, was of great interest to the notorious pirate. These pirates weren’t just the ordinary thieving kind. Sailors all around Lesbos knew of her penchant for kidnapping ship’s captains and, usually, any female members of crew on board. Since it was only females on the ship she was watching, Lysandra wanted to be a bit picky with who she was after.

Kassandra caught her eye immediately and her own research into the fascinating woman led her to all kinds of incredible tales. Tales of mythical beasts, great battles, and even love and heartbreak were at the centre of the woman known as the Eagle Bearer. And she had seen the eagle, too, following dutifully behind the impressive ship she commanded.

There was a certain... tenderness with which Kassandra regarded one of her crew. A pretty woman with short, black hair, dressed in black and red robes and knee high sandals. She had to be a lieutenant on board. There was something there, in Kassandra’s eyes, that told Lysandra that she cared for this woman, but not as deeply as she could. There was a distant look of loss... of heartbreak to Kassandra. There was, perhaps, someone she regarded as a true love who may have spurned her.

Lysandra smiled to herself when she remembered her captive on board. And the meeting she had arranged with... her. All to find out what she could about the Eagle Bearer. Kassandra was oblivious to this obsession from afar but, once they landed on Lesbos, she would find out what Lysandra wanted with her very quickly.

“Oars at the ready!” Kassandra called to her crew as they drew closer to shore. The bull sail was furled once again and the rowers below decks helped to slow the ship to a proper docking pace.

“Bring her in to shore!” Kassandra thundered.

From the nearby waters, Lysandra listened to her voice, closing her eyes, and smiling to herself. Such strength she thought to herself. No wonder they want her so badly...

The Adrestia pulled up to the dock and slowed right down, allowing its commander the chance to disembark. The lieutenant Lysandra had seen, Odessa, followed after her.

“What are you doing?” Kassandra asked.

“Something doesn’t feel right. And I think someone should watch your back,” Odessa said.

“What are you talking about? We’re fine. The Cult is almost destroyed. Kodros is dead. They didn’t follow us. What I’m here for is... complicated to explain. But nothing is going to happen, Odessa.”

Odessa stayed with Kassandra as she left the ship, stepping onto the island. As they did, Lysandra’s smile widened.

“Marietta,” Lysandra called, getting the attention of a thin young woman with a long spear on her back and wearing a rather... revealing golden robe and golden sandals that wound their way all the way up to her thighs.

“Yes, Captain?”

“Lower the sails. And get the rope. We’re going ashore.”

Odessa was still at Kassandra’s side when the Eagle Bearer stopped in her tracks, eyes wide.

“What!?”

“What is it, Kassandra?”

“It.. it can’t be!”

A short woman with tied back, black hair, wearing a white robe that showed off her well toned muscles, and carrying an impressive bow on her back, stepped into view and approached the two women. She took in the stars above, tracing the constellations and saying a silent prayer to Artemis, as she moved closer to them.

“Daphnae...” Kassandra said, remembering their last meeting. It... hadn’t ended well.

“Kassandra,” Daphnae said on approach with an edge to her voice. “I have heard rumours of you... and your crew.”

“My crew is none of your concern,” Kassandra said, shaking off the deep pang in her heart. “What are you even doing here? Why aren’t you with your Daughters on Chios?”

“Because not all of them are with the wilds, as they should be,” Daphnae said. “They betray their sacred oath to Artemis. And you force them to choose... just as you did to me.”

Kassandra swallowed hard, trying her best to forget the painful heartbreak of that night on Chios when Daphnae had asked her to do something impossible. To have her confession of love rebuked with a threat of death.. it wasn’t Daphnae who had been wronged that night on Chios...

“They willingly crew The Adrestia. They fight for me because they choose to do so. Those women are not foolish enough to put all of their trust in a malakas cult.”

“How dare you!?” Daphnae said. “After all you did, after you proved yourself, and then spurned the call of the Hunt, the oath to Artemis... you dare to insult Her followers!?”

Just as Kassandra was about to answer, she heard the muffled cry of a woman from behind her and turned around.

Yet another familiar face greeted her. Only she was in a considerably worse situation. A band of heavily armed pirates led her forward, hand bound behind her back with rope, as well as a thick coil around her arms. The woman had long, jet black hair, strong, fierce eyes and a face Kassandra could feel herself falling for again. Dressed in her black and gold accented robes and leather sandals, no longer carrying her bow however, and being held captive by the female pirates shoving her forward.

“Kyra!? What is going on here!?”

“Mmmph!” Kyra said, shoved to her knees, muffled by the thick, white cloth covering her mouth and tied on behind her head. Another cloth was sealed inside her mouth behind that one to keep her silent. A blade was held to her throat, inches away, and Kassandra’s hand moved to Leonidas’ spear at her back...

“Oh dear,” a woman’s voice said, stepping between the other four and standing in front of them. She was an impressive sight.

For a pirate, she wasn’t quite the strong, hulking mass of wit and muscle that Xenia was but Kassandra did find her rather impressive. She was tall, taller than Kassandra, and had thick arms, also with larger muscles than even the famed misthios. She had long hair, tied off into a pair of thick braids behind her head, and wore thick, Athenian armour coloured a gleaming silver. The battle skirt showed off her well toned legs and her thick, leathery sandals were plated in the same silver armour. Kassandra kept her eyes, though, on the heavy, two-handed axe she held in her right hand, planted on the ground.

“I do hope we’re not interrupting anything.”

“Let her go,” Kassandra said. “You do not want to test me.”

“Oh, I am aware of that, Eagle Bearer,” the pirate captain said. “I wouldn’t dream of starting a fight with you.”

She nodded to two huge warriors, one woman dressed in gilded Spartan armour and even wearing a red cloak on her back, and another, thinner woman wearing something similar to Kassandra’s old mercenary attire.

“Meet Heroidias and Ambrosia... my muscle.”

Kassandra drew her spear but the woman holding onto Kyra pulled her in closer, her sword now touching the woman’s throat.

“Don’t...” the captain said. “You wouldn’t want Aikaterine to spill your pretty lover’s blood, would you?”

“Wait... lover!?” Odessa asked.

“It’s... complicated...” Kassandra said.

Heroidias stepped in front of Odessa. “No fighting from you,” she said in a thick voice, drawing a dagger quicker than Odessa could move, holding it inches from her throat. “You like living, yes?”

Odessa said nothing as the blade was still held to her throat. Heroidias stepped behind her, keeping the blade close, and wrapped a thick arm around her waist.

Kassandra glanced to her left and noticed Daphnae also had a blade to her throat from the ferocious looking warrior the captain had called Ambrosia.

“Well.... here we are...” the captain said.

“Let them go. You will regret this...” Kassandra said.

“Are you just going to call me ‘You’ forever, Eagle Bearer? Or would you know my name?”

“I don’t care about your fucking name.”

“Lysandra,” the captain said, stepping forward and ignoring Kassandra’s words. The woman in gold robes, Marietta, stepped up beside her.

“Only five of you?” Kassandra asked. “This will be too easy.”

“Easy, you say? One step toward me and the people you have loved and lost, well, let’s just say they will be lost... permanently. You understand?”

Kassandra closed her eyes and let out a long breath through her nose. “What do you want?”

“You,” Lysandra said simply.

“Of course,” Kassandra said. “Who doesn’t these days? So how much is the Cult paying you?”

Lysandra smirked. “Perceptive... they said you would be clever. But they never told me that I would look upon Aphrodite herself when I looked into your eyes.”

“So poetic,” Kassandra said. “But that silver tongue won’t save you... especially after I cut it out.”

“And your temper precedes you as well,” Lysandra said. “Just like your brother.”

“You keep his name out of your mouth, malaka!”

“I never said his name. Though I did get to meet him when they paid me all that gold up front... though I’d say it wasn’t enough. My price just went up, I think.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I think I’ll keep you, Eagle Bearer. Such a beautiful creature is so much more than a simple lamb to the slaughter of some mad cult.”

Kassandra chuckled. “Keep me? What makes you think I’m going with you?”

Lysandra said nothing and snapped her fingers. Heroidias and Ambrosia dragged Daphnae and Odessa forward. Lysandra stepped aside to make sure that all three women were in sight. Kyra, still tightly tied up and gagged, refused to show fear in her eyes. But that face... Kassandra couldn’t bear to see her hurt, especially after everything that happened on Mykonos. The rebellion, their victory, that beautiful hunt with Kyra... and the fight with Thaletas that broke both their hearts. Kassandra just couldn’t lie... not to that face. Now here they were again, eye to eye, the threat of death hanging over them once more.

“Need I say anything?” Lysandra asked.

“If you hurt them...” Kassandra said, trailing off.

“What? Where are your threats now, great misthios? You have nothing... not when those you love are in danger and you can do nothing to save them. I have studied you, Kassandra. I know all your weak points. I know where to hurt you... and I will. If you do not do as I say.”

“Kassandra, don’t!” Odessa said. “Don’t listen to her!”

Heroidias pulled her in tighter. “I’d shut that pretty mouth, girl,” she said.

Weighing her options, Kassandra met the eyes of every woman she had once loved. Daphnae... Odessa... and Kyra. All of them once thought to be her chance at happiness. But Odessa didn’t want the commitment, Daphnae chose Artemis and Kyra... regretted ever having met the misthios in the first place.

But she still loved them, cared for them, and would be even further broken to see them come to harm. She would lose no more people. Not after Phoibe...

“Surrender your weapons,” Lysandra said. “And come with me.”

Kassandra still hesitated, tightening the grip on her spear. She could take them. She knew she could take them all. If only they weren’t holding hostages. That had ended badly before, though. And this time it was far more personal.

Lysandra nodded to Aikaterine, the pirate dressed in the roughest looking armour. “Bring her forward. Let’s see what the Eagle Bearer thinks when we cut this one’s throat.”

Aikaterine pulled her closer and started dragging Kyra forward.

“Stop!” Kassandra said. Her muscles relaxed and she stood up straight. She took in a long breath, glaring into Lysandra’s eyes. “Fine. But know that you will live to regret this...”

“I’ll take my chances. Take her weapons. And bind her. Tightly. I want no escapes, you hear me?”

Marietta smirked and stepped forward, rope and cloth in hand. She took the weapons carefully from Kassandra and handed them to her captain. Lysandra looked over the spear in particular.

“So... this is the mighty spear of Leonidas, hmmm? It looks... broken.”

Kassandra said nothing more, knowing Lysandra was just trying to goad her. She let Marietta grab her arms and pull them behind her, tying them together with a thick coil of rope.

“You two,” Lysandra said to the women holding Daphnae and Odessa. “Bind them as well. There will be some rich buyers for such strong, pretty girls... They are going to make us a lot of drachmae.”

With their remaining captives quickly bound and led away back toward their hidden ship, making certain to stay well out of sight of The Adrestia’s crew, the pirates felt quite good about themselves. No one had managed to best the mighty Eagle Bearer, the greatest misthios in all of Greece. But they had done it and all without so much as a scratch on their bodies.

But Lysandra had forgotten one thing... as a pair of sharp eyes, sharper than human eyes, watched her from the skies above. Ikaros, the eagle Kassandra bore, kept his eyes on the ground below. Kassandra knew he was watching them. In her mind, she told him to wait. Strike only when the time is right, she thought. Only when I say... and Ikaros obeyed the command. He would be there... and then those pirates would know the fear that comes with crossing the Eagle Bearer...

...

For the moment, Kassandra was helpless to prevent the pirate captain from taunting her. Aboard their rather small ship, with a team of unseen rowers below deck, the four captives were now at the mercy of the five women on deck.

Kassandra had been tied tightly to the mast. Ropes encircled her legs at the ankles, above and below the knees, and higher up on her strong thighs. Further rope wrapped around her waist, pinning her crossed and bound wrists behind her back, between her and the wooden mast. She flexed her hands, hoping to find some slack, but there was none to be had.

More coils of rope wound around Kassandra’s arms and chest just above the elbows and just below the shoulders, pinning them to her sides and to the mast. Her legs were also bound to the mast as well and Kassandra was tied in a standing position, well anchored to the spot. And there was nothing she could do as the pirates pulled away from the port, her own ship fading into the distance, oblivious to their commander’s capture.

The misthios remained silent for the time being, though she couldn’t speak anyway. A thick, white cloth had been jammed into her mouth while another was tied on behind her head, over her mouth, and keeping her completely silent.

Her eyes kept moving back and forth between the taunting pirate captain and the captives stuck in the wooden cage on board.

Daphnae, Odessa, and Kyra had all been bound the same way. Ropes had been added to Kyra’s bonds, tying her legs together at the ankles and knees. She remained gagged as before, with the tight ropes still binding her wrists behind her back, around one of the bars of the cage, and another coil around her arms.

The three captives struggled away, tied sitting down against different walls of the cage. Kyra was kept in the centre, in full view of Kassandra, her legs outstretched in front of her where all three women kicked their bound legs against their tight bonds.

Daphnae, bound and gagged identically to the Mykonos rebel leader, sat on the cage floor to Kyra’s right, closing her eyes and trying to find a deep, meditative state. When escape proved fruitless, the leader of the Daughters of Artemis allowed her mind to focus on her Goddess, the Hunt, and the wilds of her Chios village.

Odessa, meanwhile, struggled furiously against her restraints. The knots were out of reach and she made no progress, grunting and mumbling into her gag, but she kept it up. She had been caged before, by those bandits back on Ithaka, but Kassandra had been there to save her. This time, Kassandra was forced to remain a captive beside them, watching from the main deck below the mast she was tied to.

She remained indignant at the idea that these pirates would treat a descendant of Odysseus in such a way! They had no idea who they were trifling with!

“Mmmmph! Mmmrrrghh! Hmmmph!” Odessa grunted, fighting her restraints, shouting into her gag, unable to escape. But the pirates ignored her, sailing their ship off into the night while their captain circled the mast and the bound and gagged Eagle Bearer.

“To think Aphrodite herself walks among us... you are a treat for the eyes, Eagle Bearer,” Lysandra said.

“Mmpph...” Kassandra said, letting out a breath of anger. Soon she told herself. They will need sleep. Then we’ll show them...

“Selling you to the Cult of Kosmos could make me quite rich. But you are worth far more than they are paying. You would make such a fine... addition... to the crew.”

“Mmmmrrghh...” Kassandra growled into her gag.

“Perhaps I should just keep you bound like this. You do make a fine decoration for my mast, dearest misthios. And how I do enjoy the sight of you...”

“Mmmph!” she said, shifting a bit in her bonds.

“But the ones you love, I have no use for. Aside from making me some serious drachmae at the slave market. They were just a means to an end, of course. How else was I to make the legendary Kassandra mine? You can’t battle her ship, you’ll just be sunk by the fierce arrows and precision javelins. Or rammed to pieces by the anger of the Minotaur on her prow. No, that just won’t do.”

Kassandra continued to glare into Lysandra’s eyes. You.... you die first... she thought to herself. Lysandra continued.

“You cannot hope to fight her. No no. I have seen you in battle, Kassandra. Entire garrisons laid to waste by the blade of your spear, some not even knowing death was upon them. You have the strength of Apollo in battle. There is no competing with that. So how do you defeat the mightiest warrior in all the Greek Isles?”

“Mmmpphh....” Kassandra sighed, still glaring.

“You make her stand down. But how? You use the ones she loves. I know you have lost so much. I heard all about what the Cult has done to your family. I have asked anyone who would speak to me about you. Even that pig-headed winemaker on Kephallonia was happy to oblige...”

Fucking Markos. You’re still an idiot...Kassandra thought.

“You’ve had a rough life, Kassandra. Now you have nothing more to worry about. I will take good care of you. Just stand there, bound as you are, and let me look at you. What could be easier, my friend?”

Don’t you dare call me ‘friend’ you malakas pirate Kassandra thought.

Lysandra turned away from her, looking out to sea. “Your lovers will be on their way by tomorrow. Off to Euboea. You’ve been to Chalkis, yes? Maybe I’ll even give you the chance at a last goodbye to the tools of your downfall, misthios.”

“Mmmmph!” Kassandra grunted, thrashing against her bonds. They held her fast. These pirates clearly knew what they were doing. She knew there was no escaping on her own.

“Oh dear. Does the thought upset you? You’ll get over it. Once you accept that I am all the woman you need...” Lysandra said, pressing her face inches from Kassandra’s. “And I’ll be so much better than that so-called ‘Pirate Queen’ Xenia... yes, I heard all about her, too. That fool of a woman would probably kill me for this... if she could ever catch me.”

Lysandra smiled wide. “You’ll make me so happy, Eagle Bearer. And, in time, I think I can make you happy, too. Just you wait.”

As she walked away, Kassandra screamed her rage into her gag, bucking and thrashing against her inescapable bonds. Nothing she could do would loosen them. But she wasn’t relying on that...

Lysandra left her captives and the five pirates, save for Marietta at the helm, went below decks to get some rest. With them gone, all of the captives struggled hard against the ropes that held them but still they remained bound.

Kassandra looked to the starry skies above, trying to spot Ikaros somewhere above. Lysandra really hadn’t taken him into account... It would be her last mistake...

Rushing wind beat against her skin as Ikaros mighty wings brought him to a stop, perched atop a crate behind the mast. Marietta didn’t seem to notice the eagle in the dark. He was a very stealthy bird, after all.

Go on, Ikaros Kassandra thought. You know what to do.

His sharp, curved beak went to work on the ropes binding Kassandra’s wrists. At the same time, she flexed her muscles, trying to remain as still as possible, hoping to break through the ropes as Ikaros cut away at them.

Ikaros stopped suddenly, turning his head sharply to one side. He spotted the woman at the helm, who seemed to be looking in their direction. Her brow was furrowed and she stared at the mast, thinking she saw something odd.

“Wait...” she said to herself.

Ikaros took to the skies again and Marietta jumped when he moved. “I knew it! Damn bird...” she said.

Kassandra was still tightly bound and she pulled hard against the ropes around her wrists... but they held firm.

Another approach... she thought. Up for some hunting, Ikaros?

Ikaros knew what she meant, taking off higher, and keeping his eyes on the slightly frayed bonds below. With his sharp vision, he could see exactly where he had weakened the ropes. In an instant, Ikaros folded in his wings and dove down at a steep angle, talons outstretched, taking careful aim, moving toward Kassandra’s bonds at speed.

With a swift, swooping dive, Ikaros sliced deep into the strong rope around Kassandra’s wrists with his razor sharp talons, almost cutting clean through. This was enough. With a mighty pull, the ropes frayed and Kassandra felt them snap. It took some fidgeting to get the loops to fall away and, just like that, her wrists were free.

Her mind was now on the chest beside the cage with all of her weapons in it. Able to use her arms, Kassandra took a short while to work her arms free and untie the ropes there. A few times, Ikaros would dive down and slice into the ropes to help her when it got difficult. It only sped up the process, and it was only minutes before Kassandra’s arms were free. Working on her leg bonds, and finally removing her gag, Kassandra crouched low and crept to the chest with her weapons.

Silently opened the wooden box, she met eyes with the other three captives. Kyra simply glared, refusing to look directly at her. Daphnae remained in a meditative state and Odessa... pleaded with her eyes.

There was no other choice, then. Kassandra had to free them before she dealt with the pirates. Her original plan had been to kill every last one of them and sail the ship back to Lesbos. But the way Odessa looked at her and the deep pang she felt in her heart at the sight of each one of them... Kassandra had to put them first.

She cut open the cage door and cut the women free of their bonds, helping each of them stand up.

“I would thank you,” Kyra said with a whisper. “But... well... I think you know.”

“Yes... I do...” Kassandra said with a sigh.

“You can live for today, Kassandra,” Daphnae said. “But my Daughters are everywhere. You cross us-”

“Yes. I know. They’ll kill me. As will you...” Kassandra said, practically snarling in her whisper.

“Kassandra... we need to commandeer the ship,” Odessa said. “But, please, you’ve seen enough death. They didn’t kill us...”

“Are you out of your mind!?” Kassandra asked. “They were going to sell you! And they would have killed you if I didn’t go along with them! They’re pirates!”

“I know but... maybe there’s a more poetic justice for them...”

Kassandra had been blinded by a wave of wrathful vengeance for so long that she never considered another solution. But Odessa’s words had her intrigued. “Go on and tell me, then.”

...

“Mmmmph! Mmmmp! Hmmmmph! MMMMRRRGHHHH!” Lysandra would not stop screaming and growling into the cloth that covered her mouth and nose. She strained against the ropes holding her to her own mast but there was nothing she could do. It seemed Kassandra, too, knew a thing or two about tying knots...

“Shut your mouth, pirate scum,” Kassandra said. “We’re almost back to Lesbos now.”

“MMMPPHHH!”

Her crew were all piled into the wooden cage, thoroughly hogtied and gagged the same way as their leader. All were stripped of their equipment, down to short, rough tunics and their sandals, bound hand and foot and tightly gagged. Odessa had taken the helm and Kassandra guided her back toward Lesbos, keeping an eye to the sky where Ikaros flew ahead.

“I told you it was a good idea,” Odessa said. “And they’ll be in prison before you know it.”

“Should have just killed them...” Kassandra said.

She heard Ikaros call from nearby and held out her arm so he could land on her metal bracer. She stroked his head with the back of her hand. “At least I still have you...” she said. “Maybe you’re all I need, Ikaros.”

Ikaros cooed once back, leaning in to her gentle strokes, and nuzzling her hand.

“How... did you tame that eagle, anyway?” Odessa asked.

“Does it matter? He was there for me. That’s all that matters now. Isn’t that right, Ikaros?”

He cooed again, stretched out his wings, ruffling his tail feathers, and shaking his head. With a simple nod from Kassandra, he took to the sky again, soaring above them as the shores of Lesbos came into view.

“Bring her in to shore,” Kassandra said, her eyes catching sight of The Adrestia still moored to the dock.

“What do we do about them?” Kyra asked, approaching from the deck.

“I’ll be letting the guards in town know about the captured pirates just off the coast. You... should find a ship back to Mykonos...”

“Yes. I should. I don’t need your help to figure that out,” Kyra said.

“Of course not...” Kassandra said.

They anchored the ship off shore, leaving the bound and gagged pirates to their fate, and disembarked for shore once again. Kyra and Daphnae had no words for them, going their separate ways. Kyra walked to the docks and started inquiring about merchant ships headed back to Mykonos. Kassandra thought about offering The Adrestia to her but... realized that was probably a bad idea.

Daphnae disappeared as quickly as she had appeared. The Daughters of Artemis knew how to hide themselves away, after all. But she knew the words she had spoken on the ship, and that day on Chios, were all true. Despite the love they shared... Daphnae would kill her. And so would her Daughters. The ones loyal to her, anyway. At least the deserters of her crew on The Adrestia would respect her.

That left Odessa, one of her faithful lieutenants, still by her side. Maybe that was all she needed. Maybe...

“Kassandra?” Odessa asked.

“What is it?”

“Are you... all right?”

“I’m fine,” Kassandra said.

“Well, I guess you don’t need me following you anymore. What did you need to do on Lesbos, anyway?”

“You wouldn’t believe me...” Kassandra said. “I need something here. And it’s... it’s hard to believe.”

“Was Barnabas telling you stories again?”

“This is no story. Just... wait for me here. Please.”

“Of course, commander. I will be here,” Odessa said.

Kassandra nodded. “Good. Thank you, Odessa. I will be back. I can promise you that.”

“The crew and I will be waiting.”

She had changed back into her dark attire, with the hood and veil of her viper hood. She pulled the veil over her face, raised her hood, and blended into the gathering crowd as the sun arose in the east. Odessa watched her go and couldn’t help but feel sad for her. Kassandra had been through so much... but she would succeed. Because she was the Eagle Bearer, the misthios of legend... and Kassandra was a hero. There was nothing, especially not a few pirates, that could stop her. Odessa was certain of that.