“Have you told them yet?” she asked.
“No.”
“Do. They are quite attached to Xanthus and need their time to say farewell, as does he.”
“I know. Another disappointment for them.”
“He will be better here. He cannot go where you are headed. And he is tired.”
Lucius nodded and went back to the fire with the clay pot in his hand. He sat down beside Adara and leaned forward to look at Phoebus and Calliope.
“I need to tell you something.”
Phoebus looked up and Calliope handed Antiope to Briana.
“Yes, Baba?” Calliope said as she and her brother looked at him.
“It’s about Xanthus.”
“What about him?” Phoebus asked.
“He is going to be staying here.”
The children were silent, and in their eyes, Lucius could see disappointment once again.
“But why?” Calliope asked.
“He needs to rest now. He
