65. In Which the Drums of War Begin Their Beating
Chapter 65
In Which the Drums of War Begin Their Beating
A thena marched into the room behind her guards. She maneuvered around them and slammed both hands on the wooden table.
“We have division among our ranks.”
She eyed each warrior. Some men shifted nervous glances toward the noticeable absences of Maximus’ company as she glared. Others looked to their goddess for guidance.
“I created you out of respect for your human lives. Out of honor. You are my warriors, to fight on the side of the Greeks, to uphold the laws of Olympus.” Athena slammed her fists into the wood. “The war is on our doorstep, and one company has taken it upon themselves to commit treason.” Folding her hands, she circled the table, walking behind their chairs.
“Some in the Celestial Legion have decided they know best. They are no longer among our ranks. Apollo will have to clean up the mess he caused by not ruling them with a steadier hand. The Serathena is here, men. She’s here, and she’s alive. The war your goddess has been trying to avoid now beats.”
She circled the entire table and came back to her chair. Staring down each legion, letting her words drop like lead. “I expect my orders to be followed when I give them. I demand obedience from those who wear the crest of the Circle of Epsilon.” She splayed her hands on the wood and leaned forward. “The Celestial Legion is against Olympus. Go train. Prepare for war. Dismissed.” She waved a hand, and the men rose, filing out of the room.
After the warriors left, Athena crossed the room to the far-left side. Yanking open a smaller door, she disappeared inside, one of her guards trailing behind her. Threading through the corridors of her palace, she came to a narrow hallway and a door at the end. Wrenching it open, Athena stepped into a brightly lit room. A wall of windows, three stories tall, lined one side. The sun streamed in and bathed the room in a warm glow. Marble columns lined the side, and across were paintings of Athena from various artists. Some were small and delicate, representing her softer side. Most were ostentatious. Her favorite hung in the center and took up most of the wall. It depicted her on the battlefield, spear in hand, shield upraised, warriors fighting below her perch on a hill. She eyed it as she swept past. The long crimson rug that ran the length of the room muffled her footsteps.
“Athena, I received your summons and came as soon as I could.”
Athena nodded. “Ares.”
She stopped before the set of chaise lounges on the furthest wall of the room. This was her private lounge; only a select few were allowed in; the others, like Ares, had to be summoned.
“I’m sure you have heard by now the Serathena lives.”
He nodded. Ares had risen as she approached; his helmet remained on the lounger. She waved a hand to indicate he sit as she lowered herself into one. He refused, standing at ease, his hands behind his back, his legs slightly apart. In every situation, a general first.
“I am gathering my army. I have told my men to prepare. The Celestial Legion is now on the wrong side as they are harboring the Serathena. I suggest you do the same.”
“My army is always at the ready, Athena, but I have to ask, is this the treason you claim?” Ares asked.
She flicked a glare at him. “A company within the Celestial Legion has become insubordinate. They need to be brought to heel.”
“Fine, but is calling for war necessary? The council has ruled in favor of the company and will rule on the Epsilon warrior. Our focus should remain on the Dark Oracle and her acquisition of the siren queen. This seems to be a personal vendetta against your own and not something I want my men engaged in.”
Athena’s glare could cut glass. “You refuse to help me fight against the Serathena? You, Ares, bloodthirsty for war, are questioning my motives? Tell me, what would you do if one of your warriors disobeyed, broke their vow to you, lied, and committed treason?”
“I would cut them down where they stood.”
“And yet you wish me to exercise restraint?”
“I merely meant that if the Serathena is indeed the destroyer, do you think the second Trojan War begins with a squabble within your ranks?”
A growl rumbled through her. “The Serathena has been training, Ares. Allowed to access her magic and the power she possesses. They are gathering supporters to their side consisting of Valerius and the Queen of Sirens. I am certain their next move will be to release the Dark Oracle. They have chosen which side of Olympus they align. And Apollo has done nothing. He is supposed to rule over that province, yet he does the same as the first Trojan War: ignore the seriousness.”
A look of surprise formed on Ares’ features and caused the general’s normally stony demeanor to take a softer side. The moment passed quickly, and he hardened his features once more.
“You are sure about this?”
Athena nodded. “Callassa herself approached Aro.”
Ares gave her an austere look and frowned.
“I will need some time to assemble my troops, Athena.”
“After what transpired between you and Zeus the first time, I assumed you would want to see a second chance to be on the correct side of Olympus.”
It took him two strides to be nose-to-nose with her. Dark eyes flaming with anger.
“Do not assume you know anything about the things I want, Athena. I will not be played for a fool.”
Her eyes tightened at the corners. “Do not assume I do not know war comes with costs.”
“I will bring you troops, Athena, but I will need time.” He stepped back. “I will not send my men to slaughter because a woman tells me to again.”
Athena stared him down. Maximus’ company would fold if she could convince Ares to align his armies with her. They wouldn’t have the manpower to defeat her army and Ares with just the six of them, Serathena or not. Even if the siren queen could get her people gathered, no other gods would side with the one who could bring about their destruction. Athena assured herself that when she came to blows with the insolent company, she would send them to the Shadow Realm to live out their days as whispers of the men they were. A part of her tingled to see Camulos brought down.
Ares studied her darkening face, shadows falling across it as echoes of war thrummed with every heartbeat.
“Athena,” he jolted her out of her thoughts. “This war you want so badly, be sure it is for the safety of Olympus and not because you seek revenge. Revenge is not a good enough reason for good men to be torn apart in the name of honor.”
“Ares, I’m surprised at you. You were not this way the first time around.”
“I was made a laughingstock, Athena. I will not be made one again.”
“I know what war is about, Ares. I was in the first one.”
Pheridones hurried toward the circle of her five sisters. The fire in the middle burst forth with flames of reds and golds, oranges and purples. The blaze rose into the dark sky, stars circling overhead as the smoke kissed the leaves above them. She was again late for their meeting, as she had spent too long with Maximus. The leaves crunched under her sandals; her sisters chattered as she approached.
“Ah, Pheridones, you have decided to join us after all,” her older sister, Kerokeis, scolded her as she quickly sat on her stone in the circle.
“I apologize, sisters.” Looking remorseful, she ducked her head in acknowledgment.
“Do you bring us news, Pheridones?” her middle sister asked, looking softly in her direction.
She nodded her head and brushed her dark hair from her eyes.
“Have the Serathenas found their braided cords?” Kerokeis asked. As the oldest Sister of Eternal, she was the most regal, her dark hair pulled back neatly, her grace and poise unmatched. Narrowed eyes met Pheridones’ nervous ones.
“Yes.”
“Both of them?”
“Yes, sister.”
Kerokeis nodded, satisfied. “Then the savior and the destroyer have their mates.”
She held two matching cords in her hand; both braided together with gold but different in their construction. One with sunlight and shadows, the other with fire and frost. The sisters looked and nodded their collective heads. The task of the last few centuries was nearly complete.
“They will need each other in the coming days, as I need my sisters.” She turned to Pheridones once more. “You have made sure they are under the Celestial Legion?”
“Yes, of course,” Pheridones answered, annoyed. She might be the youngest, but she was the most skilled at moving forward with the steps they had to complete.
“Has the transformation been made?”
Shaking her head, Pheridones looked down into the fire. “No, but she is the one; I am certain.”
“Then it is time for Pandora to return. Who will tell the furies the braids are complete?”
“I will go,” Messise, the second oldest, said timidly.
Pheridones shook her head. “It should be me. I am the one who brought Maximus to our cause. I am the one who will go tell the furies the good news.”
“Pheridones, I am proud of your efforts. Olympus will be back in balance, and Pandora will once again be among us.”
“I have a question, sister,” Pheridones said, bringing her chin level with her oldest sister’s gaze. “Their souls are connected, yes?”
“Yes. Their braids cannot be severed in battle or death. They are forever connected, forever sealed together. Soul mates. The destroyer and the savior will need their balance just as Olympus needs them for balance.”
“Excellent.”
“It is but the beginning, sisters,” Kerokeis said to the fire as it leapt toward the sky.
Among the flames danced the outline of a woman. As the fire crackled, the silhouette turned into a phoenix and took off toward the night sky, flapping its fiery wings into the heavens.