· Web view08.05.2018 · “My friends do not mock me after I have tried to ... when I have your word that you will honor our ... “You don’t understand

Allingham/Patroness/1

Dear Readers, This submission brings us to the middle of the book and the

end of Part 1. I promise my submissions will get shorter again after this.

Thank you for all your suggestions so far. - L

CHAPTER TWENTY

Leigh

The cold muzzle of a rifle pressed into her chest. Leigh woke to a slender figure standing above

her in a halo of sunrise.

“You’re on my island and you’re not welcome,” a low, guttural female voice said.

“I—I— I’m—” Leigh stammered, paralyzed by the hard metal digging into her tit.

“Put down the gun.” A shadow eclipsed the light as General Alea stepped up behind the

rifle holder. Leigh blinked to clear her eyes and saw the general held a knife to the throat of a

slight woman with a long black ponytail.

“I can shoot before you do any damage,” she said to the general.

“Don’t be so sure,” General Alea said.

The woman snorted and lowered the gun. Leigh scrambled up against the rock wall.

“We’ve searched every inch of this island and haven’t seen anyone,” the general said,

keeping his knife to the woman’s throat. “Where did you come from?”

The woman pressed her lips together and tapped her foot. General Alea sighed and

released the knife, pulling her away from the dinghy shelter. Leigh slid out the threshold and

ducked behind a boulder as the general and the shooter sized each other up. General Alea was


taller and more muscular, but the other woman lean and wiry, her stance like a cat, ready to

pounce.

“Do you have a boat?” Leigh squeaked from behind the rock. “We’ll leave right now if

you let us use your boat!”

“I don’t have a boat. I live here.” The woman sounded exasperated, like having a boat

when you lived on a tiny barren island was unreasonable.

“As you can see, our boat is too damaged to go back on the water,” Alea said. “Perhaps

you have supplies to help us fix it.”

“Whatever you’re doing here, I don’t want any part of it! Just get off!” The woman

snapped.

“It’s not an option without a working boat,” Alea said.

“Because of her?” The woman thrust a finger at Leigh, who was so baffled she couldn’t

decide if she was scared or excited by the development.

“Because we don’t have a working boat. You may have been here alone for a long time,

but there’s no need to be rude,” the general said. “And if you actually do live here, you must

have a house somewhere. Perhaps you could endure letting us look over your supplies to see if

we can find what we need to get afloat? This girl is only sixteen years old.”

The woman narrowed her eyes and slowly shook her head, as if exasperated. Leigh

couldn’t help but notice the odd familiarity of the exchange. The woman leaned past General

Alea and motioned to Leigh with her chin. “I won’t hurt you. I was just startled to find you

sleeping on my island. No one comes here. You don’t have to hide from me. My name’s Di.”


The general nodded at Leigh and she crept out from behind the rocks. Di sighed and

shook her head again. “You’re a mess. What the hell are you wearing? Come with me. You can

leave your boat here. You can shower and change at my house.”

She turned and stalked up the hill and General Alea followed after her.

Her house?

Her heart lifted in her chest.

Shower?

Leigh grappled for a moment before chasing them up the rocky hill.

They had been on the island for at least a week. They’d found a freshwater spring. The

general had taught her how to fish in the shallow lagoon on the other side of the island. They’d

taken stock of the island’s eight trees and were trying to determine how to use them to repair

their boat.

They’d covered every inch of the island. She was sure. It was that small. And there had

never been a sign that anyone else had ever even been there, let alone lived there.

Yet as they approached the top of the hill, she could see smoke rising and when they

crested, it was quite apparent that they were standing beside a chimney. It ran into the rocky

ledge with a stone house built into it.

It was not hidden. It was charming, with smooth beige stones, tall windows, and a small

garden sprawled around the front door.

“We couldn’t have missed this!” Leigh cried. “We’ve been this way a dozen times!”

General Alea shrugged, casting her eyes sideways at Di.

Di turned to Leigh, her honey colored eyes flashing. “It’s my island. Maybe it does what

I want it to.”


General Alea seemed to accept the answer. She and Di started down a rocky set of stairs

that they had failed to notice while she and Leigh struggled for survival.

Leigh let out a little harrumph and then followed as they descended toward the entry of

the home. Thoughts of and fresh clothing and a shower elbowed her doubts away. Maybe the

water would even be warm.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Athena

“I was in Olympus, visiting with my brother.” Artemis wept. “I was only there one night.”

“Who did this?” Athena’s voice was so low and harsh she hardly recognized it, even as it

growled from her mouth. Within her something stirred, something hot and wild and alien. Pallas.

“When I returned I found them like this. They must have just left. I looked through the

forests but they were gone. And Hala is gone too.”

Hala, the skilled and patient young fighter she and Artemis had admired was not amongst

the weeping girls, bleeding in the forest.

“Were all of them raped?” Athena’s blood churned and fury crackled in her fingertips. A

storm gathered over the city. Did her father know of her rage or has she somehow summoned it

herself?

“No. The ones who have yet to menstruate were spared, but they were beaten.”

“I have to go,” Hermes said and Athena spun toward him.


“You have to go?” she cried. “Do you not want justice for these girls?”

“This is not my place, Athena,” he said, trying to keep his eyes from the bloody scene

before them. “These girls were out here without protection, using weapons.”

“The weapons were their protection! Or would have been had they grown enough to

defend themselves!” she cried. “But they are still children! The men who did this must be

punished! You will help me find them!”

“This is the way of the world, Athena. These girls should not have been out here alone.

Not with you so far away,” Hermes said, refusing to meet her eye.

Athena flared, grasping the hilt of her sword. Artemis took her arm. “We will find them,

sister. And they will pay. Hermes, go! If you are the sort of coward who condones the rape of

children—”

“You said they only raped the girls who’d had their first blood!”

“Children!” Artemis spat. “We do not care for your help.”

Hermes stumbled back a few steps, wary of Athena’s ire. Then he leapt off into the air

and vanished.

Athena turned again to the girls. They huddled together, crying softly as they tried to

comfort each other. The older girls had taken the worst of it, their own spears broken over their

bodies, their faces swollen and purple and their thighs caked with blood. But they collected the

younger girls to them, cooing and rocking as they feebly gathered up the remains of the weapons

Athena gifted them.

“I am no healer,” Athena said. “What can I do for them?”

“We will mend them,” Artemis said. “And we will give them justice.”


“We should find Hala. She would not have abandoned her sisterhood. She was taken and

wherever she is, we will have the attackers.”

Artemis nodded. “Let us see what can be done here. Then we will find her.”

Athena surrounded the girls in gentle and they fell asleep. She and Artemis moved in and

Artemis showed her how to heal their bodies. There was nothing they could do to heal their

souls.

#

“I prepared this match myself!” Hera declared. “He is from a fine family and she has strong

traits! Their sons are going to be warriors that will bring Athens great glory!”

“He and his friends raped and beat a group of girls in the forest!” Athena cried.

“What were they doing alone in the forest in the middle of the night?” Hera asked.

“They were there on my business!”

“You have not been here to conduct your business, Athena. And what do you care about

mortal relations anyway? It has never been a concern to you who marries who and who rapes

what.”

“These girls are a concern of mine! Tell me where Hala is!”

Hera sniffed, turning away. “I will not have you ruin my match. It is perfect.”

“Except that he raped her friends and dragged her away! Except that she is only twelve

years old!”

“She has had her first bleeding. Her family is a good, strong family, but they have fallen

on hard times and having their daughter marry into his family will bring them great prosperity.”


“Not when I flay him!” Athena shouted at her stepmother. They had met in the center of

the city and the mortals rushed past them, unaware of their presence but anxious to get out of the

way.

“Would you really do that to her?”

“It would be a favor!”

“She is with child, Athena. What would become of it? With no husband to care for them

and a family in financial despair?”

“I will give them the money.”

“And what of her reputation?”

“Hera! Tell me where they are!”

“You would ruin her life. She can have a strong husband, strong children, comfort and

wealth. He will marry her. I will see to it. And she will live as well as the queens of this city. She

will have the ear of the queens, for that matter, if she handles things correctly. But if you kill

him, you will leave her shamed forever. All of those girls! It is an awful thing that happened to

them, but you left them unprotected and now they are damaged. But the ones who are with

children, they can marry the young men who this. They can make the most of a difficult situation

and even come out ahead. Or they can shame their families and themselves and end up

prostitutes, their children sold as slaves.”

“I will rip those children from their wombs,” Athena said, “Better that than to curse them

as you have planned.”

Hera’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “You can’t. It’s a nasty little trick Gaia pulled on all

of us. If the baby wants to stay, it stays. The only way to end the pregnancy is to end the mother.

And even that doesn’t always work out the way you would like.”


“How do you know?” Athena asked.

“You think I haven’t tried myself? All of those little bastards your father has seeded, you

think I haven’t tried to just make it easy on those sluts he lain with? No. Once it takes, that life is

out of our hands until it is born.”

“You are cruel, Hera,” Athena said.

“I play my part,” Hera said. “Just because you were born with a skill for the sword, does

not make it so for other women. You put those girls in danger, Athena. Encouraging them from

their homes, teaching them to use men’s weapons. Then abandoning them. They were helpless.

Getting them safe, in homes, with families, that is what I do. And I will do it, for them, if you do

not hinder me.”

Athena wished she was back in Amazon. Then she recalled her difficult feelings for Medi

and wished she was somewhere else entirely. No one seemed reasonable. Nothing seemed fair.

She could not force her girls to marry their assailants. She could not condemn them to domestic

slavery for something that was not their fault.

“Find them new husbands,” she said to Hera. “And bring me the men who hurt them.”

“Not Hala.”

“Fine!” Athena shouted. “Not Hala. Have your perfect match. But the others are mine. I

will serve justice.”

Hera smiled. “We have an agreement.”

#

On the wedding day of Hala and Dares, six young men were compelled to walk to the steps of

Hera’s temple after the wedding sacrifice was made. When the bride and groom walked out,

Athena revealed herself to them as she stabbed each of them the chest with her adamant sword.


Hala met her eyes. There was a plea there.

Kill my husband too, the girl asked as the men before her stumbled to the ground,

provoking gasps of horror from the wedding guests, who saw nothing of the goddess.

Athena shook her head, unable to answer her plea. But she kept her gaze fixed.

“There will be retribution,” she promised and turned to Hala’s new husband, his face

white with terror. “There will be retribution.”

#

Medi arrived shortly before the first baby was born. Athena was in Olympus, attending yet again

to a despondent Aphrodite and made no arrangements to meet her as she and Artemis prepared to

deliver the five children conceived in brutality. Thinking of the situation made her feel ill and

adding Medi to it did not seem to provide any comfort.

She was not absent from Athens, however.

Every night she visited Dares and his parents in their sleep. Every night she brought to

them dreams of the rape and of the execution of Dares’s friends. He had condemned them to

death when he brought them with him after his young intended bride, when they doled out

punishment to her and her friends for practicing weaponry in the woods.

Every night, in their dreams, when Dares exited the temple on his wedding day, he

watched his friends take a sword to their hearts and then Athena rose up before him and split him

in half, from his testicles up.

He barely slept or ate and his parents avoided him, doting on his young wife. The whole

family understood that Dares had angered their patroness and Dares’s parents secretly hoped that

their son would do the honorable thing and sacrifice himself to the goddess for the forgiveness of

his family.


But, of course, Dares was not an honorable man.

As Hala labored with their baby, with Medi and Artemis as her midwives, Dares

sacrificed a seabird in the small temple of Poseidon, begging the god to deliver him from Athena.

The baby was a boy and Hala and her in-laws named him Pallas.

Two weeks later Dares was gored by a wild boar and died as he was carried back to his

home. The mourning period was notably shorter than usual.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Athena created a pretty silver pipe to pass the time in Olympus and it played a sweet

melodic pitch when she blew across the sound hole. It delighted her and she eagerly shared the

beautiful music with her fellow Olympians. They were all enchanted, until Aphrodite, who had

been weeping to Athena privately over the prolonged absence of Ares, observed her performing

Zeus’s courtyard one morning.

Aphrodite crept up behind Athena, mimicking the peculiar shape her lips took to produce

a song. When everyone started to laugh, Athena turned to see Aphrodite mocking her. She threw

the flute at the goddess, who ducked, sending it sailing down to earth.

Looking down at where it landed, Athena knew she’d spent too much time away. The

Olympians were wearing on her. She raised her hand in a lewd gesture and before Aphrodite

could protest, she dropped back down to Athens.

Medi was speaking with the priestesses in Athena’s temple.

She stood when Athena approached, straitening her pale rose Athenian gown, brushing

back her gleaming black strands and taking a deep breath. She was luminous.


“Artemis returned to her mother, for a brief while,” she reported. “We delivered three

boys and two girls. All healthy and strong and all the mothers are pleased.”

Athena could not stop herself. She walked toward Medi and sank her fingers into her lush

black hair.

“My friend,” she said.

“My Athena,” Medi whispered and kissed her.

Athena’s body burned as she pulled Medi in closer. Medi grappled with Athena’s armor,

finally running her hand up beneath her helm, her lips firm and soft and all Athena had longed

for, yet not nearly enough as she became aware of the perfect plate of bronze on her chest that

barred Medi’s body from hers.

At last the kiss broke and Medi gazed up at her, her lids low on her eyes. “I have loved

you from the moment I met you.”

“I— I—” Athena stopped short. “I am afraid things are complicated here. But I will take

care of you, Medi. I will make it work.”

Medi kissed her again and took her hand.

“Come, we should see your godson,” she said.

#

They allowed themselves to be seen, but if would be more like a dream when the mortals

remembered it later, coming in like guests from the neighborhood to regard the baby.

Baby Pallas was seven months old and near walking. His grandmother asked hopefully if

he was semi-divine.

“He is the child of your son and daughter in law,” Athena said.

“My daughter,” the woman responded. “My son is dead.”


“Hala.” Athena approached the girl, where she sat in the corner of the home, gazing at

her fingers. “Are you well?”

“My in laws are very kind to me. And they love my son dearly.” Her voice was so small.

Her body had swelled to accommodate the baby, but she still seemed very much girl.

“They seem to care deeply for you, as well,” Athena said.

Medi lifted the baby into the air. He giggled joyfully and for a brief moment Athena

imagined what it would be like to raise a child with Medi. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe it

would even be nice.

“I can’t go anywhere alone,” Hala whispered, her brown eyes glistening. “Not to the

market, not to the temple. Someone is always with me. I can’t even take Pallas out by myself.

My friends, my— my sisters cannot call on me nor I on them because we are of different

societies now. And I cannot sneak out to the forest because Pallas needs me, every night and

every day, I must feed him all the time.”

“Your friends are fine. And babies do nurse, but from what I understand that will slow

down more and more.” Athena said.

“Do they train without me? No one else knows how to shoot a bow yet. How are they

going to learn if I am not there to teach them?”

“Hala, no one is training.” Athena took her hand, an awkward attempt at comfort. “The

attack stopped all of that.”

“Stopped it?” Hala snatched her hand back and stood. Her in laws looked up, alarmed.

“You girls needed to be attended to. We need to keep you safe,” Athena said.


“Safe?” Hala cried, her eyes flashing in a way so like Pallas that Athena’s heart ached. At

the same time, something inside her poked at her heart. “I’ll be safe when I learn to use a

sword!” Hala said.

“Hala, please.” Her mother in law ran to her side and the girl sunk to the floor, weeping.

Just a child. A child that was now a mother, forever tied to a family whose son had brutalized

her.

“I will talk to Hera. When the time comes, we will find you a match that is to your liking.

You will be a wealthy woman, with many friends and you will never need to worry about anyone

hurting you again.”

Hala shook her head, burying her face into her knees as her son crawled over to her,

wrapping his chubby arms around her ankles. Medi hovered over them, looking from Hala to

Athena, her lovely brow furrowed.

“We shall take our leave,” Athena said, reaching for Medi’s hand. “There will be many

blessings upon your house, Hala. And those who care for you.”

Hala only wept and Athena left the home, Medi trailing behind her. Athena pulled her

hand from her grasp once they were out on the street.

“I do not understand, Athena. Why is the girl to be punished to the violence wrought

against her?”

“She has not been punished. She is cared for, in a wealthy family and she will never want

for anything.” Athena marched through the street toward her temple.

“Cared for by the family of the man who attacked her?”

“He was punished.”


“I don’t understand how this even came to be. How can one use the act of love as a— a

means of violence?” Medi asked and Athena spun toward her.

“You don’t understand rape?”

“Well, I have heard the term used but—”

“Do all in your city lie with whomever wants to lie with them?”

“No. Of course not. We choose our lovers and they choose us, together.”

“And no one ever tries to force their will on others?”

Medi’s face paled. “I suppose it has happened. Perhaps I am just naïve. My sisters say it

is so. There was a young man a couple years back who was held down by two women in

Euryale’s guard. He was quite attractive and they decided to have him.”

Athena shook her head and started to walk again, brushing through the crowd, leaving a

static charge in her wake. “It is not the same for men.”

“Why not?”

“It just is not.”

“Sthenno cut off their hands and they were cast from the city,” Medi said.

“How badly was he injured?”

“They broke his manhood.”

“Well, perhaps that is the same. But it is the exception. Or maybe it is just the backwards

way it happens in Libya. In the rest of the world it is the women, and the children. And there is

no love in it. They are left bleeding and broken and their families shamed.”

“Their families? Athena, wait!” Medi ran to catch up with her as she stalked through the

city, so focused on the temple on the acropolis that she didn’t see Hera until she nearly walked

into her.


“Athena, dear, I do hope you are not still angry about the little flute.” Her stepmother

halted her with a hand to her chest. “It was just a silly joke. Aphrodite is quite sorry she sent you

off when she is still in such need of your counsel.”

“I am Pallas Athena, now. And I haven’t thought of it since I left,” Athena said. Medi

finally caught up to her and Athena sneered at Hera. “I didn’t know you had returned to Athens.”

“I have business to attend to.” Hera smiled.

“I am returned from visiting Hala and her baby.”

“Oh, of course. All’s well that ends well, I suppose. Although I wish you’d allowed that

poor boy one more son before you gored him to death.”

“I didn’t gore him,” Athena said. “A boar did.”

“Of course. It is of no concern. There is an uncle who will be available by the time she is

ready to marry again.”

“No. Hera. You will match her with a man suited to her. That she desires.”

“Desires?” Hera laughed. “What would that be? Some fourteen year old olive picker? She

shall have wealth and strong children!”

“Give her both. It will be a challenge for you, I’m sure, but I think you are up to the

task.”

Hera noticed Medi for the first time. She looked her up and down with a raised brow as

Medi fidgeted beside Athena. “I will put some young men in her path. If she likes one, I’ll

arrange for her mother in law to like him as well. The father will do what his wife says. He’s

fairly useless. Like all men, I suppose.”

“Thank you,” Athena said and tried to move past her, but Hera reached out, holding her

hand to her chest again.


“Are you going to introduce me to your friend?” Hera asked.

“This is Medi. Medi, this is my stepmother, Hera, wife of Zeus. Queen of Olympus.”

“Medi.” Hera snatched her hand. “You are quite charming. Are you a titan child?”

“No. My mother is Ceto,” Medi said, straightening her shoulders.

Hera pulled her hand back.

“Medi and her sisters rule lands in Libya,” Athena said, enjoying Hera’s discomfort as

well as Medi’s absolute lack of concern.

“Oh, lovely. From that same stock as Triton’s daughter.” Hera said and Athena coiled.

“Yes. The great Pallas,” Medi said. “She and Athena set the standard of our land and will

be remembered always as the first queens of Libya. Mothers not to children, but to a whole

people.”

Hera’s eyes flashed and she glanced at Athena, who glared back at her.

“You must join us in Olympus, sometime, Medi. I believe everyone would just adore

you.” Hera’s voice had lost its condescending tone and now sounded flat and cold.

“Well, we wouldn’t want her taking the attention off you and Aphrodite.” Athena grinned

and now Hera sneered.

“Take care, dear,” she said and turned heel, heading off quickly toward her own temple.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Putting off Medi’s affection was difficult. Athena wished only to touch her, to hold her,

to kiss her, wherever they went, but there were few places they were unseen by the Olympians


besides the temple. Even there, the priestesses seemed compelled by the surging divine emotions

and would be found stroking one another.

Medi didn’t understand and Athena didn’t know how to convey to her something that was

so fundamental to her world.

“It is inappropriate in public,” she said.

“There are young lovers all over your city! Have you not seen them?”

“They are married, or at least betrothed,” Athena said, “And they rarely touch outside of

their households.”

“What about the women on the eastern side?”

“Those are the brothels, Medi. Those women are paid to be affectionate.”

“Do you not care for me? Am I mistaken?” Medi asked, her brows knitting beautifully.

“It is a complicated situation that I am trying to work out,” Athena replied.

“I do not want to complicate your life, Athena. I only want to love you if you want it.

Should I leave?”

“No!” Athena said. “Don’t leave. I will figure something out.”

She knew now that Medi loved her and she had a card to play, but she hesitated. It would

change everything if she took a lover, even a female one. Would she still be seen as virtuous?

Certainly she discouraged the advances her priestesses were making on one another because she

feared just what it would mean for her temple. But if she was the virtuous goddess with a female

consort, that would be the model her followers would take.

Would it be accepted?

First, she had to test it with the Olympians.

And she found herself afraid.


It was Artemis who finally, unintentionally, forced things forward. Medi and Athena

joined her for a hunt one early winter morning.

Athena and Medi carried bows, treading silently behind Artemis as they tracked a white

stag.

“This beast is magnificent,” Artemis whispered. “I will present it for the winter solstice

feast in Olympus”

“Father will be very pleased,” Athena said.

The brush rustled and the great beast leapt out at them, his antlers bearing down toward

them. Artemis, Medi and Athena all shot, two arrows taking his flanks and the last piercing his

heart. He died well.

“Look at the size of him!” Artemis cried.

“He’ll provide the main course.” Athena patted Artemis on the back.

“And I’ll send his hide back to my mother. She’ll be pleased with a white buck skin! I bet

even Apollo won’t have as good an offering for the feast!”

“It will be a glorious contribution,” Medi said.

“You two will present him with me, of course,” Artemis said.

“I don’t think I am going, Artemis,” Athena said. “There is too much to attend to in the

city right now.”

“Of course you’re going. You need to be there to present Medi.”

“Well, I, I mean—” Athena fumbled for a reply.

“Medi, you are coming, aren’t you? I know you’re not an Olympian, but you are dear to

both Athena and I.”


“There is some resentment between my family and yours, Artemis,” Medi admitted. “My

father has been buried beneath mountains by your father. I care very much for Athena, and you,

but I do not want to disturb your celebration—”

“Everyone will love you,” Artemis exclaimed. “As long as you don’t mention Phorcys.

Or the titans. You know what, you and I will sit together. Everyone there treats my mother like

dirt too, but my brother is Zeus’s most favored son.”

Medi smiled and glanced toward Athena. “If Athena thinks it would be all right, I will

come. She knows best about these matters.”

Athena felt as if she was hung high above the earth, about to crash back into Hades. “I

suppose it is time,” she said.

#

The white stag was the main dish of the feast and everyone talked about how glorious an offering

it was in such a cold and harsh winter. Demeter glowered at the barb.

Athena and Medi arrived late. Athena had changed her mind three times about going

before bringing Medi directly into her temple in Olympus.

“I understand you are nervous,” Medi said. “I will try not to— to touch you here.

Tonight. I am here as your friend and I will be your friend forever. I will be more, if and when

you are ready.”

Athena hugged her, nuzzling her hair. “I care so much for you, Medi. I am sorry I am so

unlearned in these things.”

“We are all unlearned until we are not. You possess so much more wisdom than I in so

many things. I am glad I have something I can teach you, someday.”


She raised a brow suggestively and Athena chanced a quick kiss before they ventured out

for Zeus’s courtyard.

As they approached the gleaming white garden, side by side, careful not to touch, Athena

considered how easy it would be to pull down her helm and walk in with Medi on her arm. As

with the day of her birth, everyone there would assume she was a man. They would accept her

woman, even envy her for her.

But she was not a man, nor did she wish to be, however easier it might make things for

her.

Artemis ran to greet them at the glowing archway, giddy over the fuss about her stag.

Hermes was right behind her, eager to greet Medi and reconcile with Athena.

“You handled that situation with those girls well,” he said, clasping his hands together.

“Better than anyone else would have.”

“I did what had to be done.” Athena was not so anxious to forgive him. “Everything has

changed now.”

“No more women warriors in Athens?” he asked.

“No,” Athena said. “It is too dangerous for them.”

“I am sorry, Athena,” he said, looking down at his winged sandals. “I hope you will try

again, someday.”

“Oh!” Hera exclaimed in a surprisingly sharp pitch from across the courtyard. “You

brought your friend!”

“This is Medi, daughter of Ceto,” Athena announced, “My dearest friend who attended to

my foster sister Pallas and keeps my temples down in Libya.”


Hera cringed as everyone surged forth to meet the lovely goddess. Aphrodite hung back

as well, irritated with the shift in male attention.

Medi was completely unfazed by the Olympians who came at her with questions and

snide remarks and overflowing praise. In her plain green gown, she glided about the courtyard,

joking with Apollo and easing Hephaestus’s sourness. Demeter and Hestia soon had their arms

around her, giggling away as if she was their third sister.

Athena watched it all from the side of the yard and Artemis came up beside her.

“I think this was a trick. She doesn’t need me here at all to feel comfortable,” Athena said

to her sister.

“You underestimate your power,” Artemis said. “They favor her because you brought

her.”

“Maybe, but they like her because she is herself.”

“How lovely it would be to be that honestly charming,” Artemis agreed. “I used to think

it was a choice. Be genuine or be liked. She seems insistent on proving me wrong.”

Athena smiled and looked over to where her father sat with Poseidon. Her smile faded as

she noted that they leered at Medi.

She called Hebe for a chalice of wine.

She found herself seated between Aphrodite and Dionysus at the dinner, with Medi down

the table between Artemis and Poseidon. Poseidon kept leaning in close to her, whispering things

that made her laugh and Athena felt her shoulders tighten under her armor.

“She is lovely, Athena. Who would have thought that those awful monsters could

produce such a pretty thing?” Aphrodite said. “Your uncle and father certainly seem to like her.

Perhaps she’ll be bearing our next Olympians.”


“I am Pallas Athena, now. And she is spoken for,” Athena said, taking an angry bite of

her roast stag.

“Sister, try this vintage.” Dionysus handed her a cup and Athena sipped from it.

“It’s nice,” she said.

“Try this one.” he handed her another and she tried it.

“All right,” she said.

“I am determined to find your wine, Pallas Athena,” he said. “Then you will love me.”

“I love you, brother, for being my kin. You need not win me over.”

“Are you sure she is faithful to her man?” Aphrodite asked, nudging her. “Look at how

she looks at Poseidon. Although, who could blame her? He is beautiful and he rules the ocean.”

“She is faithful, and he only rules the sea,” Athena snapped.

“Goodness. You are testy.”

“I wasn’t aware we were friendly again,” Athena said. “My friends do not mock me after

I have tried to help them.”

“I was just teasing. You are so serious all the time.”

“You cannot stand having the attention away from you for a moment. I hope Ares returns

soon so that you finally have a distraction from your own vanity.”

Aphrodite huffed and Athena accepted another cup of wine from her brother.

“I appreciate what you said. But now I am determined to find your wine to thank you for

it.” His smile was hopeful and she realized he was trying his best to earn her attention.

“I will accept your offerings, brother,” Athena said and kissed his smooth beardless

cheek. He blushed. He was so much still a boy.

#


When the feast was over, there was music and dance. Athena was invited to perform because she

excelled in both. Keeping to more traditional instruments in order to avoid mockery, she

performed on the harp, singing a tune composed in Athens while the other Olympians paired off.

Athena watched as Medi was inundated with requests for a dance, moving from god to god, full

of laughter and joy.

Athena enjoyed watching her, and Medi cast her beautiful green eyes her way often,

shining with pride as Athena’s fingers moved over the fingers of the harp. As Hermes stepped in

between Medi and Apollo, she winked at her. Athena felt her face flush and looked back at her

fingers.

“You two must be close,” Aphrodite said at her shoulder. “I suppose she’s a replacement

for your wild friend, Pallas?”

“Why would you say that?” Athena didn’t realize the goddess was standing behind her.

She shouldn’t have been surprised. It seemed to be Aphrodite’s favorite place when Athena was

performing. The best way to ensure all eyes were on her.

“Well, Pallas’s odd taste in lovers was always well know. I wonder if your friend, Medi

doesn’t share that preference.”

“You would do well not to insult my recently departed friend, Aphrodite. My wrath is not

easily provoked, but some wounds are still raw.”

“Ooh, you are sensitive.”

“About Pallas, perhaps I am. But I removed her head by accident. Just imagine how easy

it would be for me if I intended to do so.”

Aphrodite choked on her wine and stumbled back to the feasting table. Athena caught

Medi’s eye again as she moved onto to a dance with Dionysus. She winked back at her.


To the side of the courtyard, Poseidon sat with Zeus, muttering in his ear. Athena glanced

toward him and caught her uncle’s ice blue eyes for a moment before glancing away. They had

not spoken since she had returned from Amazon and although she knew Triton had forgiven her,

as best he could, she thought her uncle held a grudge against her. But the nature of the grudge

was unsure. Was his anger rooted in the fatal blow she dealt his wonderful granddaughter, or was

it because she caused him to lose the bet to his brother?

She finished her song and offered the harp to Aphrodite. “You are languishing without

attention,” she said. “Please take the harp, so that at least people will look your way for the

music.”

Aphrodite scowled at her but sat at the instrument. Medi stepped away from her dance to

meet her and Artemis.

“This has been lovely,” she said, “But I do think I will take my leave. I am happy to have

come to this beautiful place and met all your family.”

“You don’t want to stay longer? Olympus only grows more beautiful, the longer you

stay,” Artemis said.

“Oh, no. I must admit, I feel a bit nervous with my feet so far from the earth.” Medi

blushed.

“Yes, I suppose it’s rather shocking to climb from the soil to the pinnacle of civilization.”

Hera strolled into their conversation. “It has been lovely to see you again, dear. Do send my

regards to your sisters. And those of my husband.”

“As per usual, Hera, your hospitality is lacking,” Athena said and Hera’s face pinched.

“I will go down with you, Medi. And then I must be off to Delos. My island is too small

for a good hunt, so I must lead our men to other lands to hunt for the winter.”


“You will be missed, sister.” Athena embraced her and Artemis patted her back.

“We will speak soon.”

“Medi, I will return to the temple later tonight. I have business to attend to first,” Athena

said.

“Certainly, Athena. And Hera, I thought this was a lovely celebration. Thank you for

your kindness, inviting me here and if you should ever find yourself in Amazon, we would be

most honored to have you at our table.” Medi bowed her head respectfully before walking off

with Artemis.

Hera chewed on her lower lip as she watched her go. “You could learn many things from

your friend, Athena,” she said. “Charm and manners not the least of them.”

Hera stalked away. Athena smiled and turned to see Hermes behind her.

“Are we at peace, again then, sister?”

Athena sighed. “I cannot fight with all the gods of the Pantheon. And it seems that I am at

odds with a great deal of them. You are my dearest brother and I forgive you your squeamish

ignorance, for it was merely a reaction to my own reckless ignorance.”

Hermes smiled. “My sister Athena is never ignorant.”

“If only that were true. I am only thankful that Ares is still off at war instead of here to

side against me with Hera and Aphrodite.”

“I am glad you have found other friends of your gender, Athena. For the three of you

seem eternally at odds.”

“If only we could all be like father and his brothers.” She glanced over at where Zeus and

Poseidon had been sitting to find the spot now vacant. Zeus had returned to the table and was

eating more of Artemis’s beast, laughing with Apollo. Poseidon must have departed.


“Their resentment rumbles in the very core of the earth,” Hermes said. “Had you spent

more time with Hades you would know. The three of you could not compete with the rivalry

between the three of them.”

“No!” Athena said. “They are all the best companions! Always laughing about their days

before us and—”

“The days before the youngest brother saved all of them and became the master of the

universe? Yes. They laugh when they are together, because they plot when they are apart. Father

sends me frequently to Hades and the Aegean with the most arbitrary messages so that I can spy

on if his brothers have plans to try and overthrow him.”

“Do they?”

“Hades does not. Not since he married Persephone. He seems to be too busy ruling the

underworld to care much about what goes on above anymore, though he is quite critical of

Father. But Poseidon always has something afoot. It is just never big enough to work against

father. Especially since Father has stacked the Pantheon with his most loyal children and ensured

the devotion of all of his sisters.”

“Indeed. He is clever.”

“Surprisingly so,” Hermes said. “I often wonder about it.”

Athena laughed and Hermes shrugged.

“I must speak to father before I return to Athens. Will I see you there soon?”

“Perhaps if you let Medi train your priestesses to worship as her priestesses do?”

“That is unlikely, Brother.”

“Ah. Then I suppose I will ride in when I have a message for you.”

Athena embraced him and joined her father at the feasting table.


“Father, I believe I am ready to call in my favor, but I must speak with you about it in

private.”

“Artemis said you and the Gorgon helped her hunt this beast?” Zeus asked, his mouth full

of food. “I didn’t know you hunted, Athena.”

“I hunt for sport with Artemis. Just as she spars and reads with me. We have learned

much from each other.”

“My sister has truly enjoyed her time in Athens,” Apollo said. “To behold her now is like

seeing a new woman. She is much more confident in her craft and her demeanor.”

“Indeed. She has much to be confident about.”

“I will step away and give you some privacy,” Apollo said.

“Oh no, brother. Please do not leave your meal. I really must speak with you alone,

Father. Where we will not be overheard.”

“All right, all right.” Zeus heaved himself up from the table. “Let us go into my inner

temple. I am curious what you have at last deemed worthy to ask from me.”

Zeus’s inner temple was paneled with solid gold and strewn with blue and white silk

cushions. He poured himself a large chalice of wine and then flopped down onto his cushions.

“Father I— I wish to marry, as I mentioned before,” Athena said, clenching her teeth and

standing as tall as she could.

“Marry?” Zeus asked as if the request was new. “Marry who? You are a maiden goddess

of virtue. How could you get married?”

“It would be a virtuous marriage. In a way. I would not be impregnated. I would not—

not be… penetrated… by a man.”


“A chaste marriage? What is the point of that?” Zeus asked. “And who would agree to it?

You are lovely, but no man could be faithful to a chaste wife!”

“Father—” Athena took a deep breath. “I wish to marry a woman. It is not unheard of.

Men lay together often, and so do women. But in being with a woman, I think my maidenhood

could remain intact and I could continue to promote virtue, just perhaps, not the lack of pleasure

that is currently entails.”

“Women can lay with other women? How is that possible?” Zeus cried, as if angered by

the prospect. “A man is required for sex! A woman is only an optional partner.”

“So then, my point is made. I could marry a woman and remain a virgin.”

“No.” Zeus shook his head, his heavy white brow furrowed. “That doesn’t seem right.

This is about your cousin, isn’t it? She was the one who claimed mortal women as her ‘wives’.

That might work down in Libya but here there is an order to things. Women need men. Without

men, they cannot have children!”

“I do not want children, Father. I want a partner. That is all.”

“I don’t think I can condone this, Athena. I am surprised that you, of all people, would

come to me with such foolishness.”

Athena’s face burned with shame. Zeus chugged down his wine and then poured himself

some more. Athena’s heart pounded against her chest. Her father’s words stung to the core and

she tried to still herself to accept the defeat and walk out, but suddenly she felt a sharp kick to

her chest from the inside.

Coward.

The voice was entirely separate from her, and yet within her.

It took her a moment place it.


Then she did.

Pallas, holding up her hand, missing one finger.

I have left a piece of myself within you.

“You will not only condone it, you will normalize it amongst the Olympians. You will

celebrate it, as you would the wedding of any other of your children. You will do this because

you promised me any favor I asked to keep your wife from trying to kill your son, again.”

Athena’s voice sounded like a growl, low, guttural and entirely hiding the pounding fear in her

heart.

I am no coward, she inwardly told Pallas.

“That isn’t the kind of favor I had in mind, Athena.” Zeus set down his wine and sat up

straight.

“But it is the favor I ask and it is the favor you will give me.”

“Does this— this woman know of your plans for her?”

“I will prepare it with her, when I have your word that you will honor our agreement.”

Zeus frowned. “All right then. I do not break my promises. When you are ready to— to

partner with her, I will issue the decree. I will be sure that you remain accepted here in Olympus.

But Athena, they will mock you.”

“I care nothing of their mockery. They are fools mocking wisdom. It is nothing to me.”

“We shall see how wise your choice of partner is,” Zeus said. “Now please leave me. I

have a headache nearly as bad as before I birthed you.”

“Thank you, Father.” Athena fought to contain her smile.

Zeus waved his hand at her dismissively, but his eyes glinted with affection.

#


Athena raced back to Athens, dancing on the wind as she glided down from Olympus. She

landed in the center of town and ran to the acropolis, scaling it easily and leaping like a stag to

the steps of her temple.

She stopped at the base of the stairs, taking a deep breath to slow her nervous, joyful

heart. She was going to ask Medi to marry her. Would she agree?

A hulking shadow appeared above her at the top of the stairs. Athena blinked, trying to

understand why it appeared so wrong. She stepped forward and her feet splashed into a puddle of

water. Her eyes followed a small waterfall cascading down the steps running from the entrance

of the temple, from the tall, muscular figure. No men were to enter the temple of Athena after

dark.

Her feet slapping against the wet limestone as she ascended the stairs and the figure

stepped into the silver light of the half moon. Athena slipped, stumbling over her feet and barely

regained her footing before he spoke.

“Ah, niece,” Poseidon said. “I must thank you for bringing your enchanting friend here

from Libya. I believe I may take her to the Aegean with me, as a mistress. My wife is not so

jealous as your stepmother.”

“You are not allowed to be here!” Athena cried.

Poseidon’s wet eyes sparkled with furious glee. He brushed past her, his powerful frame

knocking her aside. Athena spun to watch him saunter down the steps. He paused at the bottom

and turned, smirking.

“Then I’ll be back for her when the sun rises.”

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR


Athena’s sandals slapped in the salty water as she ran across the limestone hall to the inner

chamber of the temple. Each breath was a contradiction. He wouldn’t. He did. She wouldn’t. She

did. They wouldn’t. They did it. He wouldn’t. He did.

Her footsteps echoed through the darkness. She seemed unable to move beyond a

slugging mortal pace. Perhaps because she feared what she would find.

Did Medi grow wearing of waiting for her and take a new lover? In her temple of all

places?

There was only one torch lit in the entire temple and its dim light illuminated a mass of

white figures, huddled in a circle on the altar.

Athena stopped below them, afraid to go on. A ravaged gasp echoed up from the clutter

and she leapt, through her praying priestesses to their ward.

Medi bled. Broken and naked and soaking wet, her fingers clutching at the cold stone

beneath her as the priestesses prayed.

“He just left, Pallas Athena,” the head priestess said. “He said he would come back for

her. We are afraid he will punish us if we attend to her.”

Athena realized she was standing amongst them and they were all aware of her. She

stared down at Medi, frozen, unable to move as her heart twisted in her chest.

“Go,” Athena said to her priestesses, “Boil water, get gauze and medicine. We will heal

her.”

“She is beyond our healing, Goddess.”

“Then just go!” Athena shouted and they scattered.

She knelt beside Medi, who gasped and struggled.


“A – A – Athena,” she choked. “I was unprepared. He was like a tidal wave crashing

down on me, breaking me apart. Like a stampede of wild horses. How could this have been?”

“Medi, I should have never left you,” Athena whispered.

“I will live,” Medi said, her voice distant and soft. “I think I will live. But I feel like I

should die. Athena, what has been taken from me?”

She began to sob, blood running with tears down her face. “Something has been taken

and I don’t know what it is.”

“Shhh, you rest yourself now. I will— I will care for you.”

“Oh, Athena, it was for you and not for him.”

“Shh,” Athena felt her blood rising. “I will heal you.”

“You cannot give it back. It is gone.”

“I will make it better.”

“I can never be whole again. I will live but my body is so broken I do not know how to

bear these scars. I feel my own soul is in tatters.”

“I will make you better. You will never be hurt again. Never again.”

Athena felt the power rising with in her. It boiled and churned.

She thought of her warrior girls, broken.

She tried not to see them in Medi.

She had failed to protect all of them. She had failed to see what men did when they saw

the light shining.

This was where war came from. This was where hate spewed.

The male desire to capture and possess, to quell the light the shined through beauty.


She pulled off her cloak and wrapped it around Medi, swaddling her like as baby and

clutching her to her chest.

“I will never let this happen to you again,” she whispered, rocking her in her arms.

The power flowed, from Athena into Medi, transforming her. She would be strong. She

would be protected.

“Athena, wait—” Medi’s pitch rose but Athena shushed and kissed her brow.

The power spread over Medi, and her skin moved, shifted, writhed. Athena pressed her

face into her damp hair and it tensed and coiled.

“Athena! No!”

“You will be protected, always. You will shed this ravaged skin and no man shall even

look upon your beauty, or he will turn to stone.”

Medi wrenched from her embrace, and Athena fought to hold her. A rattle and a hiss and

Medi lunged from her, no longer a weak woman, but a warrior, as her Gorgon sisters were.

Athena saw now, Ceto had not been the mother of monsters. She had made her daughters strong,

powerful, able to defend themselves. Sthenno and Euryale hid their natural forms for Medi. For

whatever reason Ceto’s last daughter had been born weak, but now Athena had made her the

strongest of all.

“What have you done to me?” Medi cried, beholding her new form. She whimpered,

rubbing the gleaming green scales on her body as if they would come off. She turned up to

Athena, tears streaming down her face, shouting, “What have you done to me?”

Medi loomed above her on her tail, Athena rose to regard her. “When he comes for you

again, you need only look at him and you will turn him to stone. You are a warrior now, Medi. I


have been unable to protect you as I failed to protect my young guard. But now you can protect

yourself and we can be together.”

“Together? Together like this?” Her tail rattled, agitated.

“This is the true form of your sisters! Did you think I did not know? Do not worry, I will

love you no matter what form you take!”

“I want my own form!”

“This is the form of your family! Your sisters both carry the snake within them and it has

allowed them to protect you. But now you can protect yourself.”

“Change me back! Please, Athena! I do not want this curse!”

“It is not a curse!” Athena cried. “I am helping you! You will heal and you will see. Just

wait. Wait until you are calm.”

Medi choked out a sob and her hair hissed at Athena. Athena stepped forward to comfort

her and she recoiled, one of the snakes in her hair lunging and striking Athena’s hand.

“You don’t understand,” Athena said, “This is a gift!”

“You have cursed me, Athena! You have cursed me for no crime! Do not come for me!

Do not seek me! If I should encounter you again, I will cast this gaze upon any man you care

for!”

“Medi! Be reasonable!”

Medi coiled and lunged from the temple. Athena chased but she was fast now, already

was down the acropolis and streaking through the city before Athena reached the temple stairs.

She will come to understand my gift, Athena thought. She will know I acted with love to

protect her even when I could not be with her.

But her knees gave out and a little sob escaped her throat.

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