"And fast!" Pirro said.
"But so is Typhon!" Thais added.
They were silent a moment, all guessing at what their mistress must be thinking, but Kyniska put up her hands.
"It is in the hands of the Gods now to show us whom they favour. Stop this!" she said a little too loudly. "Our task is to care for the horses and prepare for the race tomorrow. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, my lady," they murmured.
"Good. Now get to work and I'll join you shortly." Kyniska strode away from them, across the track toward the river while Pirro and the girls led the horses back to the stable.
Ajax stood where he was, waiting for his mistress to return, watching her as she stood alone in the middle of the small hippodrome, looking up at the sun as it dipped red toward the western horizon.
"Gods of victory
