Saving Astynome (3)

"I SWEAR IT!! BE THE GODS WITNESS! YOU WILL MEET YOUR END ON TROJAN GROUND!! YOU WILL SUFFER THE MOST PAINFUL DEATH THAT EVEN THE GODS THEMSELVES WOULDN'T DARE TO GIVE YOU! SOMEONE WILL MAKE YOU PAY! I SWEAR IT!! YOU WILL BEG FOR YOUR LIFE, AND NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU! REMEMBER MY WORDS AND TREMBLE EVERY NIGHT UNTIL YOUR END COMES!"

The weight of Chryses's words reverberated through the Greek encampment, carrying an unearthly power, as though Apollo himself had endowed them with divine wrath. His curse was like thunder rolling across the plains, filling every corner of the camp with its ominous echo.

Astynome heard it clearly, each syllable laced with desperation and grief. She felt her breath catch.

"F-Father…" she whispered, her voice trembling with shock and disbelief. Her father had come all this way for her, crossing hostile lands to plead for her freedom.