“Well, they’re here. I don’t know why, and I don’t know whether they mean to stay,” Porphyry said. “But you’re the one organizing the debate on whether we’re right to keep divine secrets.”

Marsilia looked surprised. “You’re right. It is the same kind of thing. And even though Sokrates was there this morning in Chamber, I was automatically assuming it was better to keep it quiet from everyone else, without examining it at all. Huh. That’s terrible of me!”

“You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself, Marsi,” Porphyry said, and that was the first time I’d ever heard her called by that nickname. “You’ve thought of it now, and there’s plenty of time to examine it.”

“I’ll see you in Thessaly later,” I said.

I ate dinner in Samos with Dion and Hilfa and the kids, like every day. We talked mostly about the boat, and how long Barnacle thought it might be before she’d be seaworthy again. They had almost finished eating by the time I got there, but they stayed at the table nibbling on apples and nuts while I ate my ribber and noodles, to be friendly. Then Hilfa and I set off for Thessaly.

“Do you think they’ll have come back?” I asked as we walked up towards the city gate, the same route I’d taken with Thetis the day before.

“Yes.”

“Do you think Athene will be there?”

“Yes.”

“Are you basing this on logic, or is it only what you think?”

“But Jason, you asked me what I think!” He gave me his real smile, and I noticed his pink markings were standing out distinctly again. “I think They will come back because They are gods, and the world is still here, and there’s nothing to be done about it if They do not. And I think Athene will be there because She will come for Ikaros.”

Marsilia opened the door to us. “They’re here!” she said.

My knees sagged with relief. I hadn’t realized how worried I had been until the burden was lifted. “So Alkippe is all right?” I asked.

“Yes,” Marsilia said, her face going blank. “Gla said that had been taken care of, so now it’s out of the way.”

I put my arm around her, as I had supported Thetis in her weeping the day before. I didn’t normally do this kind of thing with Marsilia, but it didn’t normally seem as if it would be welcome. I never knew two such different sisters. Marsilia leaned into me for a grateful instant, then moved away to intervene in an argument between two of her uncles that was becoming heated.