“Are we all ready now?” asked Nikander.
Theria began to look around. Her face flushed, then paled. Then she asked the question which Nikander had been dreading.
“Where is Lycophron, Father? Why isn’t he with us?”
Nikander put his arm about her and led her away from the others.
“Oh,” she said in a frightened voice, “I remember now. Father, did he go clean away—away from us?”
“My dear child, he is dead,” said Nikander, without tears. Then he told her of the kind oath of the kinsmen. Theria, too, must keep that secret.
But she only clung to him, sobbing. Eëtíon came to comfort her and before long she was able to go with them out toward the Precinct.
It was natural that the few remaining Delphians should cling as close as possible to the Great Temple. Nikander saw to his regret that the only obvious refuge for Theria was the Pythia House. It was the only building besides the temple itself upon the temple platform. Into the old prison place she must go.
But Melantho went in with her. And there was also an old blind woman, too feeble for fight, and a young mother borne on a litter with her hour-old child. Nikander was allowed to go in and out as the one upon whom all depended, and in front of the house Eëtíon and Dryas kept guard.
The great danger had broken down all conventions.