Now Theria’s faith in her father was second only to her faith in her god. “He wouldn’t do that,” she exclaimed. “How can you say that of Father? Father is——”
“Now, now; don’t get so hot all of a sudden! Wait till you hear: Athens has sent to Delphi asking—‘Shall we fight the Persian and if so how will we come out?’ The Pythia gave them a discouraging answer. Then the Spartans came. Discouraging answer again. Something about ‘a king shall die to save you.’ But not clear. Now Father wants them to keep on asking again and again until better answers come. That’s pretty near sacrilege!”
He paused a moment.
“All the answers are the same, Sis. The answer to the Cretans: I heard that myself, heard the priestess give it. Confused, of course, but after the priests deliberated over it, clear as a whistle. ‘Keep out of the fight,’ it said. ‘Do you want to be whipped as the Phokians whipped you?’
“Now Father is horrified at that. He says the Oracle meant nothing of the kind. He had a terrific argument against all of them in the Council. He’s making enemies right and left. What worries me is that man Kobon. The Kobon family have always hated us and Kobon—well, he’d like to destroy Father. Now here is his chance. Sooner or later he’ll do it unless Father stops what he is doing.”
Theria was speechless with horror. Lycophron leaned toward her earnestly.
“Look here, Sis, why don’t you talk with Father? You. I can’t talk to him any more. He won’t listen to me. Try to tell him what I’ve told you. Of course he’ll be angry. He’ll say you know nothing about it. But it may count if you tell him you’ve been warned. He’s bitter discouraged now. It may count. Will you do it?”
“Yes, oh, yes!” she said.
Lycophron kissed her. He was really an affectionate fellow and considered his sister a charming child. Then he hurried out of the house.